Reflection tools for participatory research

Context

Participatory research is increasingly expected in many scientific contexts, particularly in applied, transdisciplinary, and publicly funded projects. At the same time, what participation actually means in practice often remains unclear. Questions about roles, expectations, and decision-making power are frequently addressed late, implicitly, or only when tensions arise.

In my work as a research coordinator, I repeatedly encountered situations where participation was treated as an obligation rather than a design question. Conversations about how participation should be shaped often lacked concrete entry points, shared language, and low-threshold formats that invite reflection rather than defensiveness.

This project emerged from the need for simple, tangible tools that support early and ongoing reflection on participatory aspects of research projects.

Project focus

The project aims to develop a set of reflection tools for participatory research, consisting of a card set and a series of minimalist posters.

The focus lies on:

prompting structured reflection on participation, roles, and decision-making
supporting conversations in advisory, coordination, and group settings
lowering the threshold for engaging with participatory research concepts
offering flexible tools that can be used across project phases and institutional contexts

Rather than prescribing methods or models, the tools are designed to invite discussion, surface assumptions, and create shared orientation.

Collaboration

The project is developed in collaboration with Stefanie Pietsch, whose work focuses on participatory research formats and spatial interventions.

The idea of a participation “parcours” — a sequence of standing displays placed in corridors or shared spaces, guiding visitors through different phases of a research project and inviting reflection on participatory aspects at each stage — originates from her project. The collaboration brings together complementary approaches, combining content-driven reflection tools with spatial and situational formats for engagement.

My role

I am responsible for the conceptual and content-related development of the reflection tools. This includes formulating the guiding questions, defining thematic clusters, and aligning the materials with practical needs from research coordination and advisory contexts.

I also coordinate the overall development of the materials and plan to collaborate with an illustrator or designer responsible for visual design, layout, and production-ready assets.

Expected outcomes

A reflection card set supporting conversations about participation, roles, and decision-making in research projects
A series of minimalist posters designed for offices, corridors, and shared spaces
A coherent conceptual framework connecting cards, posters, and the participation parcours
Materials that can be used by ambassadors and supporters of participatory research, as well as by research coordinators during project design and advisory work
A foundation for making the tools available to interested institutions and practitioners

Funding