Service-user involvement in social work research is much vaunted and considered desirable. Yet, it is not common. This is despite the fact that research-funding bodies are increasingly mandating inclusion of service users in the research process. It would seem timely for the profession to look again at participatory research as an approach to working collaboratively with service users in the co-production of research. This article reviews the arguments for service-user collaboration in social work research; it considers the evolution of service-user engagement and its current status in practice. Building on the foundations of social work research methodologies, the article considers the practicalities of participatory research and the potential barriers. The article draws on vignettes of published participatory research to illustrate this type of research in social work.
AldridgeJ (2014)
Working with vulnerable groups in social research: Dilemmas by default and design.Qualitative Research14(1): 112–130.
2.
ArnsteinS (1969)
A ladder of public participation in the US.Journal of the American Institute of Planners 35(4): 216–224. Republished in Journal of the American Planning Association 2019 85(1): 24–34.
3.
BeresfordP (2000)
‘Users' knowledges and social work theory: Conflict or collaboration.British Journal of Social Work30(4): 489–503.
4.
BeresfordP (2002)
User involvement in research and evaluation: Liberation or regulation?Social Policy and Society1(2): 95–105.
5.
BeresfordP (2005)
Developing the theoretical basis for service user/survivor-led research and equal involvement in research.Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences14(1): 4–9.
6.
BiskinSBarcroftVLivingstonW, et al. (2013)
Reflections on student, service user and carer involvement in social work research.Social Work Education32(3): 301–316.
7.
BoxallKBeresfordP (2013)
Service user research in social work and disability studies in the United Kingdom.Disability & Society28(5): 587–600.
8.
BranomC (2012)
Community-based participatory research as a social work research and intervention approach.Journal of Community Practice20(3): 260–273.
9.
CossarJNeilE (2015)
Service user involvement in social work research: Learning from an adoption research project.British Journal of Social Work45(1): 225–240.
10.
CousinsJBChouinardJA (2012) Participatory Evaluation Up Close: An Integration of Research-Based Knowledge.
North Carolina:
Information Age Publishing.
11.
D’CruzHGillinghamP (2017)
Participatory research ideals and practice experience: Reflections and analysis.Journal of Social Work17(4): 434–452.
12.
DoyleMTimonenV (2010)
Lessons from a community-based participatory research project: Older people’s and researchers’ reflections.Research on Aging32(2): 244–263.
13.
Fals-BordaO (1999) David Kinsey Dialogue Series: The Origins and Challenges of Participatory Action Research. Lecture No. 1 (delivered 14 May 1999).
Amherst, MA:
University of Massachusetts, Center for International Education.
14.
FlemingJBeresfordPBewleyC, et al. (2014)
Working together – Innovative collaboration in social care research.Qualitative Social Work13(5): 706–722.
15.
FrenchSSwainJ (1997)
Changing disability research: Participating and emancipatory research with disabled people.Physiotherapy83(1): 26–32.
16.
GolightleyMHollowayM (2018)
The voice of the service user.British Journal of Social Work48(6): 1503–1507.
17.
GutmanCRamonS (2016)
Lessons from a comparative study of user involvement.Social Work Education35(8): 878–891.
18.
HanleyB (2005) Research as Empowerment? Report of a Series of Seminars Organised by the Toronto Group.
York:
Toronto Group.
19.
HanleyBBradburnJBarnesM, et al. (2004) Involving the Public in NHS, Public Health and Social Care Research: Briefing Notes for Researchers. 2nd ed.
Eastleigh:
Involve.
20.
HorganD (2017)
Child participatory research methods: Attempts to go ‘deeper’.Childhood24(2): 245–259.
JacquezFVaughnLMWagnerE (2013)
Youth as partners, participants or passive recipients: A review of children and adolescents in community‐based participatory research (CBPR).American Journal of Community Psychology51(1–2): 176–189.
23.
JarldornM (2016)
What can Ruby do with a camera? Ex-prisoners use Photovoice to reverse the rules of surveillance.Qualitative Social Work15(2): 209–230.
24.
KennanDFivesACanavanJ (2012)
Accessing a hard to reach population: Reflections on research with young carers in Ireland.Child & Family Social Work17(3): 275–283.
25.
KennedyPCurranSMuntaenG, et al. (2019)
The ‘thin’ and ‘thick’ needs of Roma: A participatory mixed methods study.European Societies21(1): 52–75.
26.
LittlechildRTannerDHallK (2015)
Co-research with older people: perspectives on impact.Qualitative Social Work14(1): 18–35.
27.
LoughranHMcCannME (2015)
Employing community participative research methods to advance service user collaboration in social work research.British Journal of Social Work45(2): 705–723.
28.
LusheyCJMunroER (2015)
Participatory peer research methodology: An effective method for obtaining young people’s perspectives on transitions from care to adulthood?Qualitative Social Work14(4): 522–537.
29.
LyonsK (2002)
Researching social work: Doctoral work in the UK.Social Work Education21(3): 337–346.
30.
MayerJETimmsN (1970) The Client Speaks.
London:
Routledge & Kegan Paul.
31.
McLaughlinH (2010)
Keeping service user involvement in research honest.British Journal of Social Work40(5): 1591–1608.
32.
McLaughlinH (2012) Understanding Social Work Research.
London:
Sage.
33.
MorrisL (2019)
Patterns, designs and developments in articles published in Qualitative Social Work: An update.Qualitative Social Work18(5): 747–753.
34.
NewmanAMcNamaraY (2016)
Teaching qualitative research and participatory practices in neoliberal times.Qualitative Social Work15(3): 428–443.
35.
PadgettDK (2016) Qualitative Methods in Social Work Research. 3rd ed.Los Angeles:
SAGE Publications.
36.
Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre and Department of Justice and Equality (2018) Roma in Ireland – A National Needs Assessment.
Dublin:
Pavee Point.
37.
PowellF (1998)
The professional challenges of reflexive modernization: Social work in Ireland.British Journal of Social Work28(3): 311–328.
38.
PattonMQ (2002) Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods. 3rd ed.
Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage.
39.
SalmenLFKaneE (2006) Bridging Diversity: Participatory Learning for Responsive Development.
Washington, DC:
World Bank Publications.
ShierH (2001)
Pathways to participation: Openings, opportunities and obligations.Children & Society15(2): 107–117.
42.
StrierR (2007)
Anti-oppressive research in social work: A preliminary definition.British Journal of Social Work37(5): 857–871.
43.
SwartzSNyamnjohA (2018)
Research as freedom: Using a continuum of interactive, participatory and emancipatory methods for addressing youth marginality. HTS Theological Studies74(3): 1–11.
44.
SweeneyAMorganL (2009) Levels and stages. In: WallcraftSchrankJAmeringBM.Handbook of Service User Involvement in Mental Health Research.
Chichester:
Wiley-Blackwell, pp.25–36.
45.
WagamanMASanchezI (2017)
Looking through the magnifying glass: A duoethnographic approach to understanding the value and process of participatory action research with LGBTQ youth.Qualitative Social Work16(1): 78–95.
46.
ZarbG (1992)
On the road to Damascus: First steps towards changing the relations of disability research production.Disability, Handicap & Society7(2): 125–138.
