Our Approach


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		A Participatory Approach to Research \| Why use a Participatory Approach to Research \| Examples The Nova Scotia Participatory Food Costing Project uses a participatory approach to food costing research. What is a Participatory Approach to Research? Participatory approaches to research aim to support active involvement of those most involved, affected or potentially impacted by an issue.²⁶ The Research is designed to address specific issues identified by local people, and the results are directly applied to the problems at hand.¹² Participatory research is conducted for the purposes of education, taking action, and affecting social change. This approach respects and builds upon the local knowledge and assets that already exist among the participating community.
		Everyone involved in the research process is valued and respected. All those involved bring different strengths and experiences to the project. In a true participatory research project everyone has a say in the direction, process and evaluation of the project. The data that is produced from the work belongs collectively to everyone. This is important because it allows all those involved in the research to use the data to help improve food security.	Participatory research is not just research which is hoped will be followed by action. It is action which is researched, changed and re-researched, within the process by participants. (Wadsworth, 1998)

Updated April 2009	The information on this website has been developed by and is at the discretion of Dr. Patty Williams. The information on this site is not published by Mount Saint Vincent University and therefore Mount Saint Vincent University cannot accept responsibility or liability for any persons who suffer loss, injury or damage from its use. Anyone using the information on this site does so at his or her own risk.