Deltakerbaserte

Deltakerbaserte is an adjective used in Norwegian to describe approaches in which participants are central actors in shaping processes and outcomes. In research, evaluation, program development, and design, deltakerbaserte methods base knowledge generation and intervention on participants' experiences, needs, and agency rather than solely on external researchers or designers.

Core principles include active participation, shared decision-making, co-ownership of results, reflexivity, and attention to ethics such as informed consent, confidentiality, and inclusivity. The approach seeks to adapt to local contexts and mitigate power imbalances, aiming for transparency about who is involved and how.

Applications span fields such as community health research, social program evaluation, education and training design, and public or service design. In practice, participants may help plan projects, co-create instruments, collect and analyze data, interpret findings, and disseminate results, contributing throughout the project lifecycle.

Common methods include participatory action research, co-design workshops, user or citizen advisory groups, and iterative cycles that revise questions and interventions based on participant input. Data collection and analysis may be carried out with participants, with emphasis on diverse perspectives and shared interpretation.

Benefits often include greater relevance, legitimacy, and empowerment, as well as richer, more actionable insights. Challenges include time and resource demands, potential tokenism or unequal power dynamics, and ensuring representativeness and methodological rigor.

Deltakerbaserte work is closely related to participatory research, co-design, and co-production, sharing a commitment to involving end-users as partners rather than subjects.