Introduction

This quotation refers to the importance of respecting the people with whom we work and affirms that local people can work in a research or, we would say, evidence gathering, context. It also affirms the rights of these participants to set their own agendas for inquiry and to have ownership of the process. Participatory approaches can also be viewed from a more pragmatic perspective. The following quotation enumerates some of the practical advantages of participatory research.

Approaches to gathering evidence that involve working together with participants are sometimes called collaborative approaches, and sometimes participatory approaches. Collaborative approaches typically involve communities of practice with different stakeholders functioning as co-inquirers (Messiou, 2019). Participatory approaches typically involve the clients, learners or service users. They are founded on the fundamental principle that most people can and will participate in the generation of evidence in a research-focused environment. Those who see research as an elitist and difficult activity find this approach hard to comprehend, but we are of the view that, with appropriate training and support, most people are well able to contribute at all stages of a research, inquiry and/or evidence-gathering activity should they choose to do so. It is important to accept this principle, if we genuinely believe in equality and inclusion. The following case study is an example of successful collaboration.