Layering reflexivity into participatory research

Reflection, critical reflection, and reflexivity have all been discussed as ways in which researchers can analyze their positions in the research process. The chapter begins by differentiating between these processes and showing how reflexivity connects to participatory research. Following this, I show how researchers can layer in personal, interpersonal, and collaborative reflexivity into a participatory research project through which they seek to develop empowering contexts for non-academic co-researchers to feel able to participate in moulding the research process to meet their needs and shape the knowledge deemed important to share with the broader community. Finally, I provide examples of how I used art to layer the different forms of reflexivity into my work with asylum-seeking and refugee youth, and I conclude with a reflection on the challenges and opportunities that may arise for researchers seeking to layer reflexivity into their work.