Participation in research: experiences from collaborating with cocreators during a study among mothers of teenagers with immigrant backgrounds in Oslo

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, we discuss what it means to practice participatory research based on experiences from a research process with mothers of immigrant background living in three local communities in Oslo. We reflect upon the possibilities and challenges of participatory research as experienced during a research process conducted in collaboration with three co-creators. Three stories of participation, communities of practice, power and reciprocity are presented to highlight our experiences from participatory research. We found that the community of practice between researchers and co- creators was essential for collecting relevant and verifiable knowledge among mothers of teenagers with an immigrant background. The practice of reciprocity contributed to building trust between researchers and cocreators, and towards the participants in interviews.