Issues of equity and empowerment in knowledge democracy

Three community based research examples

Bibliographic Data

ID6134291
AuthorsJennifer Mullett (Vancouver Island University, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume13
Issue3
Pages248-261
Publication date2015-08-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAction Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1476-7503 • E-ISSN: 1741-2617
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1476750315573590
OpenAlexW2259770278
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited13

Participatory action research, particularly the Collaborative Inquiry methodology of Heron and Reason has great promise for knowledge democracy. However, an elegant methodology cannot always prepare the researcher for the reality of engaging with disempowered groups, or from stumbling in the unknown territory of marginalization. In this paper, I describe three examples of collaborative research, two with Aboriginal communities aimed at increasing access to health services and one with non-profit organizations aimed at increasing collaboration. Each case presented an opportunity to learn that, despite good intentions and collaborative processes, there remain issues we cannot anticipate. Our dilemmas and the ways in which my research colleagues, our community partners and I resolved the problems are described. I conclude with lessons learned from the three cases and reflections on validity, equity and empowerment

Action research · Citizen journalism · Democracy · Empowerment · Engineering ethics · Equity (law · Heron · Participatory action research · Pedagogy · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Sociology · Community Health and Development · Health Policy Implementation Science · Law · Participatory Visual Research Methods