Using Participatory Research for Early Childhood Advocacy: Reflections on Methodology

This paper discusses the methodological implications of using participatory research in the advocacy for better care and education services for children and families. The discussion uses the example of a national study undertaken in Singapore to show how participatory research used in collaboration with participants and commissioning body as key stakeholders can help to galvanise transformative change at the level of policy and provision. It explores the development of a participatory approach in framing a research agenda and the role of participant stakeholders in informing policy. The paper discusses the complex relationships that occur between the researcher, commissioners, and participants during the research process, and the potential strengths and challenges in using a participatory methodology in engendering a social agenda for advocacy and policy change. Drawing on international literature, this paper discusses the findings of the study, ethical considerations, and paradoxes that often relate to advocacy and participatory research.