Consortium Member Involved:
James Frankish, PhD.
Institute of Health Promotion Research, University of British Columbia
Abstract
This 59 page (English) guidebook is based on the Royal Society of Canada study on participatory research in health promotion conducted by a team of researchers from the Institute of Health Promotion Research at the University of British Columbia.
The French and English versions of the guidelines differ somewhat in their method of presentation, even thought the basic concepts are the same. The French and English teams worked together in an interactive and collaborative fashion and the results pulled together common general conclusions from their respective complementary approaches.
The guidelines can be viewed as reflecting a continuum of degrees of participatory research. It is important to continue with the use of the guidelines in a manner which demonstrates areas of consensus and works to make systematic methodology accessible to a variety of users. It is also important to emphasis the significance and value of the sequential and complementary processes in which the two teams from Vancouver and Quebec were involved.
The goal of the original report was to create a tool which would allow funding agencies, planners, and communities to better understand participatory research. This workbook is a complementary tool for use by practitioners and community members.
The aims of this Guidebook are:
The guidelines were originally developed as a tool for research funding agencies. These guidelines provide community groups or organizations that want to develop participatory research projects, with a useful outline of the key elements of participatory research.
The Royal Society study traced the historical roots of participatory research. It also developed a snapshot of its status in Canada. The project team gathered information and met with people who said they were involved in participatory research. They also met individuals who have written about participatory research.
The original project team reviewed prevailing theories and ideas in participatory research. Guidelines were drafted that describe levels or forms of participatory research on each of several dimensions. This Guidebook builds on recommendations from the original report. It reflects Health Canada=s support for continuing the development and application of participatory research within the field of health promotion.
This Guidebook is not a how-to for participatory research. Rather, it provides an overview of key elements and issues. It also provides case examples of how different projects have tried to address or deal with such issues.
A French adaption of this Guidebook has been created by the Group for Health Promotion Research and Intervention (Groupe de recherche et d=intervention en promotion de la santé) at Laval University.
Additional information and copies of this document may be obtained from:
Dr. James Frankish, Acting Director
Institute of Health Promotion Research
University of British Columbia
Rm. 308, Library Processing Building
2206 East Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3
(604) 822-9210
Simard, L., O'Neill, M., Frankish, J., George, A., Daniel, M., Doyle-Waters, M. (1997). Guide de Reflexion Sur la Recherche Participative En Promotion De La Sante. Fevrier. 0-662-82395-8
Frankish, J., George, A., Daniel, M., Doyle-Waters, M. & Walker, M. (1997). Participatory Research in Health Promotion in Canada: A Community Guidebook, Royal Society of Canada, Ottawa. 0-662-26176-3
Green, L., George, A., Daniel, M., Frankish, J., Herbert, C., Bowie, W. & O'Neill, M. (1995). Participatory Research in Health Promotion, Royal Society of Canada, Ottawa. 0-920064-55-8