Improving Understanding of Participatory Research in the Coastal CRC

Abstract

The Cooperative Research Centre for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management (Coastal CRC) has embraced stakeholder and community participation in research as a way of “bridging the gaps between science and the community and between science and decision-making, policy and planning for the Coastal Zone”. The Coastal CRC has taken the concept and practice of participation in research one step further by undertaking a social research project to monitor, evaluate and review the way in which the Coastal CRC undertakes participatory research. This project ran for 3 years, between 2000–2003 and in that time a variety of qualitative and action research methods and techniques were used to determine how staff, researchers and stakeholders understand, perceive and practice participatory research. The project identified key drivers for participatory research within the Coastal CRC. These included the importance of motivation on individuals, teams, institutions, academics, community and other stakeholders; and the need for specialists with skills in facilitation, relationship development and negotiation to improve the extent and quality of participation in CRC research.