This SAGE Handbook presents contemporary, cutting-edge approaches to participatory research and inquiry. It has been designed for the community of researchers, professionals and activists engaged in interventions and action for social transformation, and for readers interested in understanding the state of the art in this domain.
The Handbook offers an overview of different influences on participatory research, explores in detail how to address critical issues and design effective participatory research processes, and provides detailed accounts of how to use a wide range of participatory research methods. Chapters cover pioneering new participatory research techniques including methods that can be operationalised at scale, approaches to engaging the poorest and most marginalised, and ways of harnessing technologies to increase the scope of participation, amongst others.
Drawing upon a wide range of disciplines, and bringing together contributing authors from across the globe, this Handbook will be of interest to an international readership from across the broad spectrum of social sciences, including social policy, development studies, geography, sociology, criminology, political science, health and social care, education, psychology, business & management. It will also be an insightful and practical resource for facilitators, community workers, and activists for social change.
This is a collection of 71 chapters in two volumes. It provides both the conceptual and ethical underpinnings for Participatory Research. It focuses on the design and step by step methods of participatory research and inquiry processes. It is a comprehensive compilation of the explosion of participatory research methods that have emerged over the past 20 years.
Participatory Research has come of age. Building on a 50 plus year legacy, it has developed the methods to produce robust knowledge which can respond to the complex challenges of our time. It is driven by those most affected by economic, social and environmental injustice and can scale to build systemic change.
The Handbook is accessible via institutional libraries and available to purchase from SAGE.
Read the first chapter for free
Read chapter 42 for free.
Memorialab: Dialogue, Memory and Social Healing in the Basque Country: A Methodological Note.
Full table of contents can be found here.
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Key Influences and Foundations of Participatory Research
- Summary article: Feminisms, Intersectionality, and Participatory Research
- Summary article: Action Research – Participative Self in Transformative Action. A Precis
- Summary article: Encounters with the Participatory Imagination in the UK Action Research Community: Interplays and Silences
- Summary article: An Introduction to Paulo Freire and his Influence on Participatory Action Research
- Summary article: The Participatory Research of Orlando Fals Borda
- Summary article: Why Link Systems, Evolution and Democratization in Action Research
- Summary article: A Summary of Theatre of the Oppressed and Participatory Research
Part 3: Critical Issues in the Practice of Participatory Research
- Summary article: The Fine Art of Getting Lost: Ethics as a Guide to Transformative Learning in Participatory Research.
- Summary article: Facilitating Participatory Research
Part 4: Methods and Tools
Part 4.1: Dialogic and Deliberative Processes
- Summary article: The Role of Dialogue in Cooperative Inquiry
- Summary article: Influencing Global Policy Processes through Participatory Approaches
Part 4.2: Digital Technologies in Participatory Research
- Summary article: The Participation Cube and Digital Affordances for Participation
Part 4.3: Participatory Forms of Action Orientated Research
- Summary article: Memorialab: Dialogue, Memory and Social Healing in the Basque Country: A Methodological Note
Part 4.4: Visual and Performative Methods
Part 4.5: Participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Part 4.6: Mixing and Mashing Participatory and Formal Research
Part 5: Final Reflections
Reviews
‘This rich, inspiring collection is testament to the extraordinary creativity of those who have brought about a veritable revolution in research through participatory methodologies and approaches. Drawn from across the globe, contributors attest to the power of participatory research and inquiry its enduring value as a catalyst for change’.
Professor Andrea Cornwall, Pro-Director (Research & Enterprise), SOAS University of London
‘This Handbook makes a state of the art contribution to this popular field grounded in 50 years of in-depth experience and spanning to some of its newest insightful practitioners. A landmark achievement’.
Yoland Wadsworth, Author of “Do It Yourself Social Research”, former President of the International Action Learning Action Research & Process Management Association
Buy the book
While we recognise that this handbook is a significant investment, the e-version is good value, providing 71 chapters of very detailed ‘how-to knowledge’. For participatory researchers and facilitators, and post graduates carrying out participatory research if you are looking for one book that brings together the best of contemporary knowledge, this is it.
Outlets
Watch the launch events
The global launch of the SAGE Handbook of Participatory Research and Inquiry
With Danny Burns, IDS Research Fellow; Joanna Howard, IDS Research Fellow and Sonia Ospina, Professor of Public Management and Policy, NYU.
Participatory monitoring, evaluation and learning: Tacking stock and breaking new ground
With Marina Apgar, IDS Research Fellow; Will Allen, Consultant; Rebecca Sero, Washington State University and Tom Aston, independent evaluator and leading evaluation methodologist.
Digital technologies and mixed methods
With Tony Roberts, IDS Research Fellow; Dr Maria Aristeidou, Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University; Anna Collom, BBC Media Action, Doctoral Researcher The Open University; Japleen Pasricha, Founder-Director of Feminism India and Annette Fisher Independent Governance & Accountability Practitioner and Researcher.
Action-oriented forms of participatory research
With Mary Brydon-Miller, Professor, Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation and Organisational Development, University of Louisville and Alfredo Ortiz, Consultant.
Mixing and mashing participatory with other research methods
With Pauline Oosterhoff, IDS Research Fellow; Tu Anh Hoang, CCIHP, Vietnam and Praxis – Institute for Participatory Practices, India
Editors
