School of Education

Participation Research Group

The Participation Research Group (PRG) aims to:

Develop deeper and broader (inter-disciplinary) understandings of the issues raised in the participation/non-participation of people aged 14 and above in education

To identify topics for further research
To increase the amount of funded research members of the group are conducting in this area
To contribute to conceptual, policy and practice debates
To contribute to the international, comparative study of participation

These aims will be addressed through a focus on the following sorts of questions:

Who participates and doesn’t participate?
Why people participate or not?
Where they participate?
What they participate in?
What form does their participation take?
When do they participate?
Can or should they be encouraged to participate?

The PRG is being supported by the Post-compulsory Education and Training research centre (PCET) in the School of Education . The group hosts a number of seminars during the academic year.

Membership of the PRG includes academics, practitioners and policy makers interested in participation issues (both internal and external to the University of Southampton ). Sessions allow an opportunity for members to share expertise and to stimulate interest and engagement in the field of participation research.

For more information about the Participation Research Group and details of forthcoming seminars please contact:

Karen Paton
PRG Co-ordinator
K.Paton@soton.ac.uk

tel: 023 8059 9356