ECSA 2024 Conference Keynote 2 - Katja Mayer

Participatory Turns: The bumpy roads to recognition of participatory approaches in the social sciences, and lessons for citizen science
The integration of societal participation into the production of scientific knowledge stands as a core principle within citizen science. Although participatory methods have a long tradition in the social sciences - exemplified by participatory action research in fields like sociology, education, and anthropology - a historical examination unveils the intricacies and obstacles tied to these methods' acceptance and application. Historically, participatory research often found recognition only on the fringes of academic discourse, encountering structural and power-related barriers. Moreover, the demarcation between political engagement and social science research was a recurring dilemma.