Course Community-based participatory research (hybrid course)

Community-based research is a practice that places community partnerships at the center – it is conducted with and for communities. Marked by respect, collaboration and inclusiveness, this practice empowers local communities as it makes important contributions to knowledge; it seeks to democratize knowledge and recognize different epistemologies by appreciating the unique perspectives of partners involved in the research process. While the approach of community-based research is adopted by many, the practice is not without its challenges. This hybrid course (AU Moesgård campus and online) addresses the conduct, advantages and challenges of community-based participatory research. A particular focus is on community research in archaeology and anthropology but PhD scholars from other disciplines interested in the subject are encouraged to apply.

Aim:

The aim of this course is to define and reflect on community-based participatory research and its responsible conduct. Engaging with literature on the subject, sharing and discussing examples of community research, the participants will gain deeper insights into this research practice, reflect on their own practice and principles that guide it, consider diversity of communities and their interests and needs, and assess the role of empathy and ethics in community-based research. The key goals are to reflect on the meaning and role of participatory research and its importance for recognizing different epistemologies and reciprocal learning, balancing research, practicing inter- and multi-disciplinary work, and situating community concerns in a larger context.

Literature:

Suggested reading list (ca 120-160 pp):

Anderson, J. D. 2015. Ironies of Collaborative Research in the Northern Arapaho Nation. Collaborative Anthropologies 7 (2): 142-79.

Atalay, S. 2007. Global Application of Indigenous Archaeology: Community Based Participatory Research in Turkey. Archaeologies 3, 249-270. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11759-007-9026-8, or, Atalay, S. 2010. ‘We don't talk about Çatalhöyük, we live it’: sustainable archaeological practice through community-based participatory research. World Archaeology 42:3, 418-429

Flewellen, A. O., Alicia O., Justin D., Jones, A.and W. White III. 2022. Creating Community and Engaging Community: The Foundations of the Estate Little Princess Archaeology Project in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. International Journal of Archaeology, 26:147–176.

Lassiter, L. E. 2005. Collaborative Ethnography and Public Anthropology. Current Anthropology 46 (1): 83-106.

Lennert, A. E. 2017. Participatory mapping: an additional depositional layer of the Godthåbsfjord, Greenland. Polar Geography, 40:3, 227-250.

Nylander, E.-K. 2022. Ládjogahpir rematriated: decolonisation of the Sami women’s hat of pride. In: Valkonen, S. et al (eds) The Sami World. Routledge, pp. 446-464

Pahl, K., et al 2022. Collaborative Research in Theory and Practice: The Poetics of Letting Go. Bristol University Press; browse through and read chapters of interest

Shaepe, D. M., Angelbeck, B., Snook, D., and J. R. Welch. 2017. Archaeology as Therapy: Connecting Belongings, Knowledge, Time, Place and Well-Being. Current Anthropology, 58(4):502–533.

Target group:

Early and late-stage PhD.

Form:

Lectures and discussion-based seminars

Day 1. What is community? What is community-based participatory research? Why do it? What is good practice of researching with communities? What are challenges, concerns and rewards? Discussion based on the reading list (see literature - the participants are also encouraged to share literature that inspires their approach), teachers’ and participants’ own case studies.

Day 2. Presentation and discussion of teachers’ and participants' case studies (continued from day 1). Reflection: diversity of communities, ethics and empathy in community research.

Lecturers:

William White, UC Berkeley (wawhite@berkeley.edu)

Eeva-Kristiina Nylander, Museum Europäischer Kulturen, Berlin (E.Nylander@smb.spk-berlin.de)

Asta Mønsted, KU (a.m@hum.ku.dk)

Venue:

Campus Moesgård, Room 4215-032

Course dates:

• 07 August 2023 10:00 - 16:00
• 08 August 2023 10:00 - 16:00