Youth Are Not All the Same: On the Appropriateness and Limits of Participatory Methods in Youth Research
The field of youth studies has traditionally promoted participatory methods, assuming that young people prefer creativity over standard methods like traditional ethnography or one-to-one interviews. However, my experience in Medellín, Colombia, reveals complications. While youth with strong ties to...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/2/83 |
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| author | Elena Butti |
| author_facet | Elena Butti |
| author_sort | Elena Butti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The field of youth studies has traditionally promoted participatory methods, assuming that young people prefer creativity over standard methods like traditional ethnography or one-to-one interviews. However, my experience in Medellín, Colombia, reveals complications. While youth with strong ties to civil society and activism found comfort in participatory methods, youth who were out of school or in conflict with the law felt alienated by formalized processes and institutional spaces. Too often, participatory techniques homogenize youth perspectives, taking the views of socially engaged youth as representative of all youth. Researchers should instead acknowledge diverse youth experiences and employ different methods for different youth groups. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9a0f8159c033469b976c8de13250c2e3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-9a0f8159c033469b976c8de13250c2e32025-08-20T02:06:15ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602025-02-011428310.3390/socsci14020083Youth Are Not All the Same: On the Appropriateness and Limits of Participatory Methods in Youth ResearchElena Butti0Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies, 1202 Geneva, SwitzerlandThe field of youth studies has traditionally promoted participatory methods, assuming that young people prefer creativity over standard methods like traditional ethnography or one-to-one interviews. However, my experience in Medellín, Colombia, reveals complications. While youth with strong ties to civil society and activism found comfort in participatory methods, youth who were out of school or in conflict with the law felt alienated by formalized processes and institutional spaces. Too often, participatory techniques homogenize youth perspectives, taking the views of socially engaged youth as representative of all youth. Researchers should instead acknowledge diverse youth experiences and employ different methods for different youth groups.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/2/83youthparticipatory researchparticipatory filmmakingethnographymarginalizationactivism |
| spellingShingle | Elena Butti Youth Are Not All the Same: On the Appropriateness and Limits of Participatory Methods in Youth Research Social Sciences youth participatory research participatory filmmaking ethnography marginalization activism |
| title | Youth Are Not All the Same: On the Appropriateness and Limits of Participatory Methods in Youth Research |
| title_full | Youth Are Not All the Same: On the Appropriateness and Limits of Participatory Methods in Youth Research |
| title_fullStr | Youth Are Not All the Same: On the Appropriateness and Limits of Participatory Methods in Youth Research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Youth Are Not All the Same: On the Appropriateness and Limits of Participatory Methods in Youth Research |
| title_short | Youth Are Not All the Same: On the Appropriateness and Limits of Participatory Methods in Youth Research |
| title_sort | youth are not all the same on the appropriateness and limits of participatory methods in youth research |
| topic | youth participatory research participatory filmmaking ethnography marginalization activism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/2/83 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elenabutti youtharenotallthesameontheappropriatenessandlimitsofparticipatorymethodsinyouthresearch |