Navigating Co-Creation in Participatory Ethnographic Youth Research - Flexibility, Intensity, and an Ethical Path Towards Meaningful Collaboration

Sep 4, 2026

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This case study presents the “Re-imagining Door 84” participatory ethnographic project carried out with Door 84, a local youth and community centre in York. York St John University researchers collaborated with young people to design and implement their own research projects, using surveys, interviews, and mapping exercises to examine community relations and future possibilities. The narrative foregrounds ethical co-creation, genuine collaboration, and an inclusive process that prioritises youth autonomy, agency, and learnable methodological and practical approaches.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatDOCX

Pages21

Reading Time7 min

AccessFree to download

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Sage Research Methods Data and Research Literacy: Case Study Authors: Please complete the white fields below. Direct any questions to your editorial contact. Case Study Title Maximum of 20 words. All principal words capitalized Navigating Co-Creation in Participatory Ethnographic Youth Research: Flexibility, Intensity, and an Ethical Path Towards Meaningful Collaboration. 1 Name Charlotte Haines Lyon Author email c.haineslyon@yorksj.ac.uk Affiliation, country York St John University, UK SAGE Author ID [office use only] Author bio. Bios will not be copy-edited; please ensure they are correct. Charlotte Haines Lyon is an Associate Professor in Education at York St John University, with a background in Youth and Community Work. Democracy runs through her research, with an emphasis on different voices impacting research, policy, and practice. Charlotte’s PhD explored democratic parent engagement in a primary school, and in recent years she has carried out various young people as researchers’ projects including Toilet Talk in which school pupils design and conduct research projects about their school toilets, which they use as a basis to negotiate improved policy and practice. I have published with Sage and want to use my existing bio ☐ I have published with Sage and want to update my bio ☒ I have not published with Sage before ☐ 2 Name Isobel Clare Author email HYPERLINK "mailto:i.clare1@yorksj.ac.uk"i.clare1@yorksj.ac.uk Affiliation, country York St John University, UK SAGE Author ID [office use only] Author bio. Bios will not be copy-edited; please ensure they are correct. Isobel Clare recently completed a PhD in Social Sciences at York St John University, which focused on women's experiences of county lines in North Yorkshire. In her current role as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant with the Institute for Social Justice at York St John University, Isobel contributes to a project that explores co-creation with young people and addresses issues of disadvantage in education. Isobel's research interests include ethics in community research, social justice, gender, and political criminology, with a particular focus on disadvantage and vulnerability. I have published with Sage and want to use my existing bio ☐ I have published with Sage and want to update my bio ☐ I have not published with Sage before ☒ 3 Name Amy Holmes Author email HYPERLINK "mailto:a.holmes@yorksj.ac.uk"a.holmes@yorksj.ac.uk Affiliation, country York St John University, UK SAGE Author ID [office use only] Author bio. Bios will not be copy-edited; please ensure they are correct. Amy Holmes is a lecturer in Social Sciences at York St John University. Her research focuses on community relationships in cities and on the role of alternative social provision in promoting community wellbeing. Her doctoral research explored the role of craft practices and industries in engaging with socioeconomic justice issues. As a researcher on the Door 84 project, she was interested in the community pantry and cafe as spaces for the promotion of belonging and wellbeing. She has previously worked on a project exploring the role of informal support networks in promoting paternal mental health, and considering occupational cultures in promoting positive relationships between new parents and employers. I have published with Sage and want to use my existing bio ☐ I have published with Sage and want to update my bio ☐ I have not published with Sage before ☒ 4 Name Tom Dobson Author email HYPERLINK "mailto:t.dobson@yorksj.ac.uk"t.dobson@yorksj.ac.uk Affiliation, country York St John University, UK SAGE Author ID [office use only] Author bio A former secondary school English teacher, Tom Dobson is Professor of Education at York St John University. Tom seeks to promote young people’s agency and voices through his research. He has published widely on: creative writing pedagogies; creative writing with children and families; the use of participatory methodologies in

FAQs

What is the core focus of the case study?

The case study focuses on the “Re-imagining Door 84” participatory ethnographic project and how ethical co-creation supports meaningful youth-led collaboration.

Which research methods were used in the project?

Researchers and young collaborators used surveys, interviews, and mapping exercises to explore community relations and envision future possibilities for Door 84.

What ethical principles are central to the project?

Ethical co-creation and genuine collaboration are central, creating an inclusive environment that prioritises youth autonomy and agency.

Sep 4, 2026

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