The Relational Motif in Participatory Qualitative Research

Abstract

The relationship between researchers and the researched is at the center of qualitative research, particularly participatory research. In this article, I describe the nature of this relationship in Indigenous communities, where there is a history of problematic research relationships. Indigenous and other research funding agencies are increasingly adding participation/collaboration as an ethical principal for research. Reasons for this are reviewed, and my work with Inuit in Arctic Canada is outlined with a focus on community participation in the research. Finally, it is recommended that enhancing research relationships and participation/collaboration should go beyond Indigenous communities to community-based research more generally. This is taking place across disciplines, including psychology, which is in need of continued progress in how research is carried out.

Keywords

research relationships participatory

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