ABSTRACT

Participatory Case Study Work shows academic co-researchers how to adapt and implement their methods so that data collection and analysis is authentically participatory. At the heart of this text is advocating a participatory approach to case study work, with co-construction as a catalyst for shared understanding and action in advancing ageing studies.

Whilst case study research has a relatively long tradition in the canon of research methodologies, little attention has so far been paid to the importance and value of participatory case study work. This is surprising as its egalitarian and democratic value-base naturally lends itself to the co-production and co-creation of personal and collective theory drawn directly from lived experience.

The book brings together over 15 years’ worth of participatory case study work in ageing studies in which the editors have been actively involved as either front-line researchers or as supervisors to PhD and MPhil studies adopting the methodology, and from where each of the contributors is selected. Real-life case examples are shared in the main chapters of the book and they provide direction as to how learning can be applied to other settings. The chapters also contain key references and recommended reading. This volume will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers interested in fields such as research methods, qualitative methods, ageing studies and mental health studies.

chapter |11 pages

Introduction

chapter Chapter 1|19 pages

Participatory case study work

What it is, how it functions and our adaptations to the approach

part 1|116 pages

Working one-to-one to develop a personal theory

chapter Chapter 2|18 pages

Living at home with semantic dementia

Creating a life storybook with Ruby and Brian to support personal identity and well-being

chapter Chapter 3|17 pages

‘The man on the cross’

Uncovering the body, faith and reflexive self in late-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

chapter Chapter 4|22 pages

Living at home with young onset dementia

Co-constructing a family biography with Susan and her nominated family members

chapter Chapter 5|19 pages

Diagramming stroke survivorship and recovery

Supporting Malcolm and Margaret to conceptually develop and find meaning in the ‘stroke circle’ and its situated function as a ‘boundary fence’

chapter Chapter 6|19 pages

A life in balance

Co-constructing Sarah’s early adjustment to Alzheimer’s disease through a series of visual representations of a see-saw

chapter Chapter 7|19 pages

Visual stories and living with dementia

Developing and co-constructing a neighbourhood map with Diane and Dave to represent ageing-in-place

part 2|26 pages

Generating a collective theory from a series of personal theories

chapter Chapter 8|24 pages

Generating a collective theory of early diagnosis in Parkinson’s

The value of the participatory in participatory case study work

part 3|58 pages

Doing participatory case study work with groups

chapter Chapter 9|18 pages

Music in Mind

Understanding the ‘in the moment’ musical experiences of people living with dementia in a group setting

chapter Chapter 10|18 pages

‘Stories from a Very Different Salford’

Co-designing and co-producing a biographical place-making animation with the Open Doors research group

chapter Chapter 11|20 pages

New horizons

Working with communities to develop dementia-friendly churches

part 4|12 pages

Drawing it together

chapter Chapter 12|10 pages

Conclusion

Reflections and directions in participatory case study work