Participatory research

The research documented on this website was designed in conjunction with staff and community activists from ATD Ireland. The research has participatory principles at its core and draws from ATD Ireland’s Toolkit for Conducting Participatory Research as a source of guidance. In particular, the concept of merged or the merging of knowledge underpins what is presented on this website. In terms of process, this has taken the following form:

• Consultation from the outset. 

• Collaboration and ongoing opportunities for participant input throughout. 

• Due consideration given to ownership and control of what is produced. 

Working in partnership in this way has meant that the research was designed in consultation with ATD at the outset and that opportunities to review and reflect on the research process and on the various research outputs were continually made available to ATD as research partners and to the research participants as co-producers of the work. In practical terms this has meant meeting in-person to discuss and review progress and providing opportunities for feedback on drafts of various outputs. Part of this research process has also involved the development of an animated short designed to capture the voices of the research participants and participants have also had opportunities to be involved in the various stages of this process. 

You can find a copy ATD Ireland's Toolkit for Conducting Participatory Research by clicking here.