Reflections on collaborative research: to what extent and on whose terms?

Abstract

Collaborative research, for instance, emancipatory and participatory disability research, arose from critique against the lack of active disabled people's participation in research, which failed to emphasize their personal experiences. By referring to power positions in a qualitative sociological study with young women with an intellectual impairment, and inspired by collaborative research, I discuss the possible methodological and ethical dilemmas found in different research phases, and in relation to the participants. I argue that collaborative research can benefit from being problematized and discussed further regarding the categorization of disability, as well as participation.

Keywords:

• collaborative research
• categorization
• involvement
• insider/outsider
• methodological and ethical dilemmas