A Square Peg in a Round Hole: Reflecting on Using a Participatory Health Research Approach during My PhD

Autor/in	Meghan Gilfoyle
Titel	A Square Peg in a Round Hole: Reflecting on Using a Participatory Health Research Approach during My PhD
Quelle	In: Educational Action Research, 33 (2025) 1, S. 172-182Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Meghan Gilfoyle)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0965-0792
DOI	10.1080/09650792.2024.2325058
Schlagwörter	Forschungsbericht; Participatory Research; Action Research; Medical Research; Doctoral Students; Student Research; Medical Students; Foreign Countries; Reflection; Epistemology; Networks; Ownership; Scholarship; Resources; Accountability; Ireland + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Forschungstätigkeit; Projektforschung; Doctoral studies; Doctorate studies; Student; Students; Doctoral candidate; Doktorandenprogramm; Schüler; Schülerin; Studentin; Doktorand; Doktorandin; Studentenforschung; Ausland; Erkenntnistheorie; Eigentum; Scholarships; Stipendium; Betriebsmittel; Hilfsmittel; Verantwortung; Irland
Abstract	When reflecting on my years as a doctoral student, I recall several questions that often came to mind throughout my journey: what is participatory health research? Is such an approach to research truly feasible in the pursuit of a doctoral degree? Is it worth it, or have I inadvertently made things more challenging for myself? My response to these questions has evolved dramatically alongside my growth and development throughout my PhD. I was presented with an opportunity to explore an approach to participatory health research firsthand; a process which included many jumps, twists, turns, and slides, and at times, left me feeling like a square peg in a round hole. Throughout this process, navigating the breadth of challenges and opportunities presented along the way, I also learned the importance of one's narrative -- in particular, the growth and development made possible when researchers and participatory partners share our stories and reflect together. This paper is part of my story, through my account of 'our story'. It embraces a narrative-style approach to critical reflection on the participatory process throughout my doctoral studies, emphasising the key challenges posed when working within the boundaries of traditional academic structures. I provide a reflexive account of how these challenges were navigated, which created a range of opportunities at both a theoretical and practical level. I conclude with a response to these initial questions and a hopeful call for change. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Begutachtung	Peer reviewed
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2025/2/04