ABSTRACT
Trish Finegan and Muireann Ranta are postgraduate researchers with participatory projects at both ends of the life-course. Trish's project was with older adults and Muireann's with pre-school children. Lunchtime discussions led to a realisation that both projects were comparable in how the research participants are viewed by society. Research with and by both cohorts is deemed not appropriate or feasible due to a perceived lack of communication and comprehension skills within both older adults and young children. This chapter briefly outlines the research projects, discusses the similarities and differences in both participatory and child rights-based research approaches. It goes on to explain why a participatory methodology was important to Trish and Muireann and it considers the significance placed on the centrality of participant voice in both projects. Finally, it examines the value of reflexivity to the researchers and their projects.
