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ARTICLES

Using community-based research within regeneration. The role of the researcher within community-based approaches – exploring experiences within Objective 1 South Yorkshire

Pages 79-95 | Received 24 May 2012, Accepted 03 Sep 2013, Published online: 11 Oct 2013
 

Abstract

Much attention has been given in recent years to involving community members in research within a number of fields including community development. Indeed, there is a large amount of literature outlining what this process involves and describes the benefits and problems of doing such research across a range of contexts. There has also been some discussion of the different approaches that can be applied under the umbrella of community-based research and their relationship to the outcomes associated with both successful and positive community development. Yet very little attention has been paid to the actual experiences of these lay researchers involved in community-based research in relation to their roles. The nature of the researcher's role as work thus requires critical consideration. This article examines the role of lay researchers within four different approaches to community-based research used for the development of community action plans within the Objective 1, South Yorkshire context. This article reports upon differential roles and types of work in relation to both experiences and outcomes. The article, therefore, addresses what these different researcher roles tell us about community-based research and outlines the implications in relation to community development.

Une grande attention a été accordée ces dernières années à impliquant les membres de la communauté dans le domaine de la recherche au sein d'un certain nombre de champs portant notamment sur le développement communautaire. En effet, il y a une grande quantité de la littérature décrivant ce que ce processus implique et décrivant les avantages et les problèmes de faire de telles recherches à travers un large éventail de contextes. Il y a également eu certaines discussions au sujet des différentes approches qui peuvent être appliqués sous l’égide de la communauté fondée sur la recherche et leur relation avec les résultats associés à la réussite et développement communautaire positif. Encore très peu d'attention a été accordée à l'expérience réelle de ces laïcs les chercheurs impliqués en recherche communautaire par rapport à leurs rôles. La nature du chercheur rôle de travail nécessite donc examen critique. Cet article examine le rôle des laïcs les chercheurs de quatre différentes approches de recherche communautaires utilisés pour le développement de plans d'action communautaires relevant de l'objectif 1, South Yorkshire contexte. Le présent article rend compte du différentiel de rôles et types de travail en ce qui concerne tant les expériences et résultats. L'article porte donc ce que ces différents rôles chercheur nous dire au sujet de recherche communautaires et souligne les implications en matière de développement communautaire.

Acknowledgements

This study received ESRC and Objective 1 funding; however, the views expressed are those of the author. I would also like to thank Peter Marsh, Bridgette Wessels, Andrea Wigfield and David Phillips from the University of Sheffield for their assistance throughout the study. Costas Georgiou and Jackie Mould from the Objective 1 Programme Directorate were also helpful throughout and so deserve acknowledgement.

Notes on contributor

Louise Warwick-Booth is a Principal Lecturer in Health Promotion at Leeds Metropolitan University. Louise is a sociologist with interests in health, social policy and communities.

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