Participation in perspective: reflections from research projects

AIM: This paper seeks to add to the debate regarding children as researchers by exploring the reality of their participation in research. BACKGROUND: As the role children and young people play in knowledge building is recognised, their position as social agents is evolving. This has led to a shift in the ways in which children and young people participate in research, and in particular in their roles as researchers alongside adults. DATA SOURCES: Two participatory research projects involving children and young people. REVIEW METHODS: The paper critiques existing models of children's participation and is followed by an account of observations made during the research projects. DISCUSSION: Existing models offered a variety of criteria against which to measure participation. However, none of the models allowed for the multidimensional nature of participation that emerged from the data to be fully described. CONCLUSION: A dual-axis model of participation is more useful than the other models described in the text for reflecting on participatory processes. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE/RESEARCH: The model can be valuable in guide planning and implementing participatory research with children and also as a tool for evaluating the process