Session aims
    • To define research design and outline its importance and identify the 
    key research designs associated with participatory research
    • To outline the principles and values underpinning participatory 
    approaches to research design
    • To illustrate different examples of participatory research design
    What is research design?
    • The overall structure or plan of the research
    • First step is to define research questions, aims and objectives
    • Methodology: qualitative or quantitative?
    • Study design (e.g. experimental or observational)
    • Data collection
    Methodology: quantitative or 
    qualitative?
    • Qualitative methodology is chosen when the research is about 
     understanding situations or the experiences or beliefs of individuals. An 
     inductive approach is used, which is based on the assumption that there is 
     no one ‘true’ reality relating to that phenomenon, but there are multiple 
     realities, as people experience it in different ways. 
    • Quantitative methodology is chosen when we believe that there must be 
     one true ‘factual’ result or range of values, and we want to find out what 
     this truth is. A deductive approach is used, in which a theory or hypothesis 
     is tested, and the concepts or constructs that we are trying to research are 
     defined and measured, using common tools. 
    Participatory research design
    • Involving all key stakeholders (professional researchers, community 
     members and other stakeholders) in as many stages of the research 
     as possible, from formulating research questions to interpreting 
     findings.
    • The majority of published participatory research has used a 
     qualitative methodology and design.
    • Participatory quantitative research usually involves a survey i.e. 
     observational.
    • Even for experimental research, there are good practice guidelines for 
     participation.
            Overview of differences between 
            traditional and participatory 
            research design approaches
                              Traditional research design                             Participatory research design
            Research          Chosen by researchers, informed by published            Chosen by non-research stakeholders or co-
            question,         research literature and/ or funders’ priorities.        produced by research and non-research 
            aims &                                                                    stakeholders. 
            objectives
            Methodology Quantitative when research questions are about  Either may be chosen, but the majority use 
                              effectiveness; qualitative when research                qualitative methodology.
                              questions are about beliefs or experiences.
            Study design      Wide range of designs: experimental or                  Range of qualitative designs; many using 
                              observational. Hierarchies of evidence favour           multiple and creative approaches. 
                              quantitative methodology and experimental               Quantitative designs are usually 
                              design.                                                 observational (e.g. surveys).
            Population &      Usually people must meet tightly defined                Eligibility criteria are broad (e.g. anyone 
            sampling          eligibility criteria to be included in the study        living in a neighbourhood) or define a 
                              Representative sampling for quantitative;               population often overlooked in traditional 
                              purposive/ maximum variation sampling for               research (e.g. homeless). Snowball sampling 
                              qualitative methodology.                                via peers is often used.