VIII ARALIG: Participatory research and planning - theory, practice and action research

Focusing on action research and participatory planning, this course aims to connect, contrast and discuss theories on participation space, and scale in the planning and governance literature combined with approaches and methodologies within action research. Within the course we will discuss the concept of participation and how it is understood and applied in research and planning. The course aims to bring together perspectives and representatives from participatory planning and research in the North and South. With this the aim is to provide interesting insights and support the development of the fields both theoretically and methodologically.

By participating in this course the candidate will gain knowledge on core and recent theories, concepts and debates in action research and research on participatory planning in the North and South. The course aims to provide the participants with tools to think, discuss, and write theoretically about participatory planning and research, by identifying, critically assessing, and positioning themselves in relation to recent discussions through a paper. The course will enable ph.d.candidates to reflect on the individual ph.d.project and its theoretical and methodological position.

The course is organized in two activities: seminar week and writing of paper. The seminar week is a combination of lectures, discussions and group seminars. Individual feedback on the work and reflections of the participants is particularly emphasized. For that reason all participants are encouraged to reflect upon their own research in the light of the particular topic of the course. Hence, the course is structured as a learning arena challenging the traditional lecturer-student relationship. Before the seminar week, the participants should prepare an extended abstract, with the purpose of presenting and reflecting upon how the course contents relate to the PhD students’ own research. After the course, the participants should write a short paper. The paper can be either a revised and extended version of the abstract submitted before the course, or a reflection paper on how the course has contributed to the ongoing research project. The course also offers a field trip.

Activities: Seminar, lectures, oral presentation, group discussions, field trip, paper writing.

Compulsory assignments: Participation in seminar, written abstract and paper.
Form of assessment: Approved reflection note. The course is taught in English

Form of assessment: Approved reflection note.