The place of qualitative research in helping voices be heard

Seriously engaging with the task of allowing voices to be heard requires diverse strategies such as reports, performances, websites, and public forums to allow the participants to speak directly to the public. The participants and their advocacy groups can often advise on the best strategies. In PAR, part of the action can be the dissemination of the findings, especially in ways that are useful to similar groups. Research that aims to help voices be heard must recognise dissemination as an integral part of the research process. Ollerton's (2009) Photovoice project is a delightful example. As part of the project the young people with disabilities exhibited their photos of their experiences with social barriers at a civic centre exhibition attended by local councillors and politicians, and also set up their own website. They travelled as a group to another city to present their findings about their concerns at a conference to the disability movement, and are currently contributing to the government Review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport. The joy of qualitative research is that it can take seriously the task of listening and finding ways for people to express themselves, especially those who are often omitted from research because nobody asked, or they think nobody is interested or the participation is too difficult. But it cannot be taken for granted that a qualitative method will give voice. This chapter addresses some of the issues to be considered but no doubt there are others, and each project faces its own challenges. Holding on to the goal of helping voices be heard guides us to the decisions on the left of the table rather than those on the right.