Applying ‘merging of knowledge’ in Tanzania

What can we learn about interrupting patterned relationships to reveal hidden dimensions of poverty

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6134364
AutoresKitojo Wetengere (0000-0003-2017-1440, University of Arusha, Arusha, Tanzania), Rachel Bray (0000-0002-5247-0819, University of Oxford), Martin Kalisa (Deputy General Director, ATD Fourth World, Nairobi, Kenya), Isha Bhallamudi (0000-0002-5487-8308, University of California, Irvine, autor de correspondencia)
Año2023
Volumen22
Número1
Páginas15-31
Fecha de publicación2023-09-22
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAction Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1476-7503 • E-ISSN: 1741-2617
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/14767503231202628
OpenAlexW4386946548
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas24

Merging of Knowledge is a research approach that creates the conditions for people with lived experience of poverty to participate at an equal level with academics and practitioners, in the co-generation of knowledge about poverty. This paper reflects critically on the application of ‘Merging of Knowledge’ to study poverty in Tanzania, assessing its challenges, achievements, and lessons learned about revealing hidden knowledge about poverty. It also provides a brief literature review to place the Merging of Knowledge alongside other participatory approaches. This paper finds that Merging of Knowledge can effectively interrupt patterned social relationships, and empower individuals and peer groups, thereby stimulating transformation of both academics and people and poverty. It does so by addressing imbalances in social status, empowering all groups of participants at each stage of the research, and building trust, confidence, and freedom from fear in a sustainable manner. The conclusion drawn is that Merging of Knowledge holds great promise for future research on topics where strong hierarchies of knowledge exist, and where the physical inclusion of participants in data collection is not readily translated into intellectual inclusivity during analysis and the dissemination of findings

Citizen journalism · Economic growth · Economics · Inclusion (mineral · Participatory action research · Political science · Poverty · Public relations · Social science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Tanzania · Community Development and Social Impact · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Participatory Visual Research Methods