Critical Reflections on Participatory Dissemination: Coproducing Research Messages with Young People

Abstract

While the potential and limitations of participatory methodologies with children and young people have been widely debated, much less attention has been paid to processes of participatory dissemination. I discuss the benefits and critically reflect on the ethical dilemmas and methodological issues raised by participatory dissemination processes, drawing on my experiences of leading three research projects in East and West Africa. Participatory dissemination can engage young people and community members in the interpretation of the findings and coproduction of research messages for different audiences. However, key ethical issues that need to be considered concern power relations, language barriers, and the level of participation that can be achieved when working with marginalized young people in spaces which may be dominated by powerful adult professionals. The use of video and other visual methods raises ethical dilemmas about the time, resources and skills involved in coproduction, and the extent to which the power to film, edit, and present remains with researchers or participants. Concerns about anonymity, confidentiality, and decisions about online publishing and/or the dissemination of videos to different audiences are particularly pertinent when working with marginalized young people considered “vulnerable.” While perhaps not an ideal form of participatory video or of action research methodologies, participatory dissemination nevertheless offers a means of engaging young people, community members, policymakers, and practitioners in dialogue, which in turn may lead to societal impacts.