ABSTRACT
The chapter gives a brief outline of participatory research and various approaches used in participatory research. Different methods, for example drawings, interviews, questionnaires, video cameras and observations, are discussed as participatory research methods, in relation to doing research with young children. The use and benefit of participatory approaches has been echoed by various authors and researchers in a range of education contexts. The main aim of participatory research has been to empower the marginalised, taking a human activist approach, thereby giving it an explicit political agenda. A consideration of ethical issues is vital to collect any high quality evidence, not only in researches involving children, but in any research involving human participants. Drawings, as evident from the history of participatory research, have been regarded as an important research technique to understand local people's perceptions of their environment. 'Learning Stories' provides a good example of observation conducted with respect for children's rights.
