Participatory Research in the Past, Present, and Future

Children and young people are “experts in their own lives,” and we, as researchers, need to find ways to work with them to help co-discover their unique insights. Methods need to be tailored to individual strengths, particular situations, contexts, cultures, and diversity. Participatory research is positioned within a strength-based perspective that embraces and respects the agency and capabilities of children and young people. As children and childhood are constantly evolving, participatory research methods need to keep evolving to keep abreast of changes, new understandings, and new technologies. More needs to be done to push boundaries and challenge assumptions about being participatory and inclusive of children and young people, to accommodate and maximize the diverse ways that children and young people communicate and participate including those from underserved communities and marginalized groups.