Led by Dr Andrew Orton

This workshop is designed for researchers who want to find ways to involve policy-makers and practitioners in research that helps to develop policy and practice.  Developing participatory approaches which involve policy-makers and practitioners can be an effective way of both carrying out and improving the impact of research.  However, it can also involve negotiating significant methodological, ethical and practical challenges when trying to use such approaches as the basis for developing policy and/or practice.  This workshop will draw on the experience of researchers who have negotiated these challenges, providing case studies as examples to stimulate reflection on what can help improve the effectiveness and impact of such approaches, and the barriers it can face, as well as exploring how these might be overcome.  It will also provide opportunities to reflect on learning that may improve any projects of this nature that you are considering, planning, designing or carrying out. 

This session is designed to complement the session on Participatory Action Research 2, by providing a specific focus on the relationship between participatory research, policy-making and practitioner development processes.  Staff are welcome to attend either or both sessions; they will include different content, but neither is a pre-requisite for the other.  A basic prior understanding of participatory research approaches may be helpful to those attending this session (e.g. from participants previously attending the session on Participatory Action Research 1), but this is not essential.

For more details, please contact a.j.orton@durham.ac.uk

ASDO