November 2 – Participatory Methods: Knowledge Co-Production and Systems Change
Class Content
This week, we will focus on developing our individual research projects and organizing our collective action research project. Students will informally present their research designs, explain their methodological choices, and receive feedback from the class.
We will also continue planning our collective research project on campus-community food sovereignty at Bishop’s University. We will discuss how to organize interviews with other campus farms and prepare for the World Café at Bishop’s. Together, we will establish responsibilities, discuss strategies for reaching participants, and identify the next steps needed to move our research forward.
Through these activities, we will explore how participatory research can bring different forms of knowledge together and contribute to meaningful change in food systems.
Schedule
Introduction & Check-In
– Welcome and check-in
– Overview of today’s activities
Individual Research Projects: Informal Presentations
Students will briefly present their individual research projects (5–10 minutes each), focusing on the following elements of their research design:
Research Question: What is your research question, and why is it important?
Research Design: What research approach and methods will you use, and why?
Participants: Who or what will you study?
Materials: What tools or materials will you need to conduct your research?
Procedure: How will you conduct your research?
Ethical Considerations: What ethical issues should you consider?
Rationale: Why are your chosen methods appropriate for answering your research question?
We will provide constructive feedback and discuss how students can strengthen their research designs.
Group Action Research Project: Interviews & World Café
We will continue organizing our collective research project on campus-community food sovereignty.
– Review the research questions and objectives
– Discuss interviews with campus farms at other post-secondary institutions
– Discuss the objectives and organization of the World Café at Bishop’s University
– Finalize research teams, roles, and responsibilities
– Discuss recruitment strategies, including invitation emails, posters, and other outreach methods
– Identify ethical considerations and practical challenges
– Establish concrete tasks and next steps for each research team
Group Planning Activity
Working in their respective research teams, students will discuss:
What tasks need to be completed to move the project forward?
Who should we contact or invite to participate?
How will we reach potential participants?
Who will be responsible for each task?
What challenges might arise, and how can we address them?
What can we accomplish before our next class?
Each group will identify its immediate priorities and assign responsibilities.
Questions, Concerns & Comments
– Questions about individual research projects and upcoming assignments
– Questions about the collective research project
– Final comments and next steps