Youth Participatory Research: A Review of Reviews and Practice Guidance

Summary

The review takes a ‘what works’ approach to youth participation in research and evaluation to better understand how to build inclusive participatory approaches to empower the young people most marginalised by the employment system.

Conducted by the Centre of Evidence and Implementation, this review of existing reviews and practice resources establishes clear recommendations on youth participation that can be implemented by research and evaluation organisations.

Key Learnings

While treview findings showed inconsistent and diverse means of implementing, conceptualising and monitoring youth participatory approaches, it also identified the following facilitators of promising practice:

• Theorising, conceptualising, and reflexivity
• Consideration of youth voice
• Power sharing between adults and youth
• Communication and engagement throughout participation
• Transparency and feedback cycles
• Inclusive practices
• Safe spaces for participation
• Trauma-informed collaboration
• Incentives and recognition for youth participation

Embedding these factors in research and evaluation projects is likely to realise higher quality approaches that are ethically responsive to the needs of marginalised young people and that advocate for change through the power of youth voice.

There was inconsistency in the way youth participatory research approaches are implemented. To widen the take-up of promising approaches, rigidity around appropriate paradigms, models and methods should be avoided. Instead, there should be careful consideration on what is appropriate for individual projects.

Across any level or type of youth participatory research approach, inclusivity, support and building of the evidence-base ensures that marginalised young people are heard and respected in individual projects and more systemically. Consideration of youth voice can be practiced throughout the research process by addressing power dynamics between participant and researcher so that all contributions are received with equal value.