3. Research questions
How and why does participation begin and
continue?
Can trends and patterns of participation be
identified over time?
What connections, if any, are there between
different forms and episodes of participation and
what triggers movement between them?
4. 101 in-depth
interviews
Life stories
Qualitative research
Individual at the heart
Approach
Participation as ‘situated practice’
3 field work areas:
Leeds Stakeholder
Enfield engagement
Suffolk
5. What is participation?
Social participation:
the collective activities that
individuals are involved in
Public participation:
the engagement of individuals with
the various structures and institutions
of democracy
Individual participation:
people’s individual actions and
choices that reflect the kind of society
they want to live in
6. Common features:
Voluntary
About action Perceptions of
Collective or connected participation are
Purposeful contradictory
What is participation?
Participation is widespread
Participation impacts Conflict and tension
on people and places are an integral part of
participation
7. The factors that shape
participation
Individual motivations
and resources
Relationships and social
networks
Groups and organisations
Local environment and
place
Wider societal and global
influences
8. Why participation starts
Helping others
Developing relationships Groups and organisations
Exercising values & beliefs Local environment and place
Having influence
For personal benefit Practical resources
Being part of something Learnt resources
Felt resources
An emotional reaction
A personal life event
An external influence
14. Conclusions
Participation is personal
Participation can be
encouraged, supported &
made more attractive
Significant barriers to
participation are
entrenched
15. Available from:
www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/resources
