deltagarforskning

Deltagarforskning, or participatory research, is a methodological approach in which researchers work together with those affected by a given issue as equal partners throughout the research process. The goal is to produce knowledge that is directly useful to communities and that can drive social change, policy, or practice.

The approach has roots in action research from the mid-20th century and has evolved into community-based and participatory variants used across disciplines such as public health, education, development, and environmental management. It emphasizes joint ownership of the research problem, methods, and outcomes, and aims to democratize knowledge production.

Core principles include genuine equity in participation, co-creation of knowledge, capacity building, reflexivity, and dissemination of findings back to participants. Methods are collaborative and flexible, including participatory mapping, photovoice, co-design workshops, group interviews, and iterative cycles of planning, action, observation, and reflection. The process is typically iterative, allowing adjustments based on participant input.

Applications span health promotion, education, urban planning, natural resource management, and community development projects. Benefits often include greater relevance and uptake of results, empowerment of participants, improved trust between researchers and communities, and policies or programs that better address local needs.

Challenges can include longer timelines, funding constraints, power imbalances, concerns about representativeness, and ethical issues around data ownership and benefit-sharing. Success depends on clear agreements on ownership and use of results, ongoing transparent communication, and a commitment to sharing knowledge and benefits with the communities involved.