Beyond the Findings: Dissemination of Findings with Research Participants
by Daniel Kuria
Research practices have seen a continuous shift towards co-production and other participatory approaches with the intent of researching ‘with’ rather than ‘on’ participants. This has benefited researchers in contributing to the reduction of the power dynamics inherent when researching with human participants, facilitating an in depth understanding of their views, and gaining further insight and feedback on the analysis. However, when we think about dissemination of the final research findings, it is not often that we intentionally share them with participants. In most cases, we tend only to share these with fellow researchers and funders. The minimal sharing of findings with participants could be attributed to restrictions on gathering participants’ contact details during recruitment, insufficient funds to hold such events, and inadequate training and experience on how to include them in the dissemination. Despite these challenges, researchers in South Africa, whom we have previously collaborated with on the Children, Technology and Play (CTAP) project previously, and now on the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) project, saw fit to hold a dissemination event, which I was fortunate to participate in. The event aimed at sharing the findings, celebrating the success of the projects and appreciating the participants and teacher-researchers.
The event was divided into art, connection making, digital and group play activities and a recorded panel discussion. The diverse activities were organised to ensure that the dissemination of the findings was done in a manner that enabled the attendees to actively participate. The connection making activity invited the attendees to share their interpretation of pictures taken during the projects by making connections with various words. This led to great discussions on the diverse interpretations of some of the pictures that we had taken during the project, with some participants offering further details on what they were doing when pictures were taken. Participants not only shared their interpretations, but also expressed joy and pride when they saw themselves in pictures and posters. Towards the end of the day, one of the parents asked if they could take home one of the posters we had created for their child, who was unfortunately unable to make it. Throughout the RITEC project, feedback from the participants in Sheffield, UK has been that they appreciated being involved in the research; this was echoed by the South African participants.
As an Early Career Researcher, the planning and attendance of the event afforded me with an invaluable opportunity to get a glimpse at presenting findings through an academic poster, applying for funding and networking with other researchers and educational practitioners. My attendance of the event would not have been a success if it were not for the great guidance, support, and approval I received from the project’s Principal Investigator, Dr. Fiona Scott, the Head of Department, Prof. Rebecca Lawthom, and the various academic and professional services staff who were involved in the process. The research team in Cape Town, led by Professor Karin Murris, and co-researchers, Dr Jan Plaas and Dr Bruce Homer, from New York University, also made my stay successful and enjoyable. I am additionally grateful to Joanne Peers for giving me the opportunity to speak to student-teachers at the Centre for Creative Education, Cape Town, with whom I shared my experiences of being a male early childhood teacher in the African context.
Returning to the main point of this post, this is an invitation to all researchers to try, where possible, to continue involving our participants in the dissemination process. This will not only, potentially, maintain these connections for future partnership but also communicate appreciation for their valuable participation.
Daniel Kuria is research assistant on the LEGO Foundation funded Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) project co-founded by UNICEF Innocenti and the LEGO Group.
