The relational aspect of co-research on inhabitant participation in urban planning and development
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Inhabitant participation in urban planning and development praxis requires collaborative relations to be forged between municipal officials and inhabitants. This article explores three ongoing, interrelated co-research processes on participation in urban planning and development in Stavanger, Norway, involving inhabitants, planners, and academic researchers. The approach to co-research is inspired by participatory action research and anti-oppressive research. Since the nurturing of relationships plays a key role in this kind of research, analytical attention is directed at the relational aspect of the processes under study. Findings shed light on internal relations among co-researchers, relations between different forms of knowledge, external relations with the wider community, and external relations with more powerful actors and key decision-makers. Based on these findings, we argue for a shift from research design to research preparation, while providing navigational tools to differentiate between co-research processes. We also reaffirm the importance of committing to a relational epistemology.
DOI: 10.18261/njips.4.1.2
Authors: Angela Subedi, Jens Kaae Fisker
Institution: University of Stavanger
Language: English
Subfield: Urban Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4417155462