An Ethic of Care in Participatory Research in School Community Settings

Abstract

We explored the manifestation and development of an ethic of care in school communities using a variety of participatory research methods. The qualitative data from this ethnographic case study were analysed using constructivist grounded theory. Our findings suggest that an ethic of care in participatory research entails collaborating as equal partners, a continuous process of accessing, relationship-building and mutual enabling (CARE). Our research approach enhanced the self-understanding of the two school communities and our own development as researchers. Our main concluding claim is that an ethic of care in participatory research in school communities can be beneficial to research participants and researchers alike.

Keywords:

• participatory research
• ethic of care
• ethnographic case books
• community engagement
• school communities