Reflections on Co-Research Methods: Realities of Inclusive Research With Marginalised Communities.

Abstract

Participatory research methods have gained prominence in the past decade, particularly in studies involving marginalised communities. Sex workers have critiqued the lack of depth and understanding in research findings, which may arise from their exclusion from the research process. In response, some scholars within the field of sex work research have sought to address these concerns, by involving sex workers directly in the research process, appointing them as peer researchers to guide and shape the research collaboratively. We undertook a study that investigated the health needs of sex workers and incorporated two sex workers as integral members of the research team, in the role of co-researcher. This paper examines the co-researchers’ experiences throughout the project, focusing on their contributions to the research process. Written collaboratively, this article is authored primarily by the sex workers involved in the project and supported by the ‘academic’ research team. It provides a detailed account – in the form of a case study - of each stage of the research process, offering insights into the benefits of peer research. Additionally, it highlights issues and concerns from the perspective of sex workers regarding their involvement in the project and the dissemination of the research findings. In doing so, this paper underscores the complexities surrounding stigma when combining academic research and sex work through the lens of peer research. Drawing on these reflections, the paper develops a framework led by the sex workers involved in the project. This framework offers guidance for researchers outside the field of sex work, on how to navigate the unique nuances of sex work co-research. It also provides valuable considerations for sex workers invited to engage in co-research, outlining factors they may wish to evaluate before, during, and after their involvement in the research process. This framework also has wider implications and can be drawn on in the context of research with other marginalised groups.