Table 1

Synthesis of participatory methodologies and their descriptions

MethodologySynthetic description
Participatory action researchIterative diagnosis–action–reflection cycle involving co-research
Community-based participatory researchSustained alliance between academia and community
Social mappingCollective mapping of territory and knowledge
Theatrical social cartographyHybrid of mapping and performance
PhotovoiceProduction and critical dialogue around photographs created by participants
Expressive creative encountersArtistic media enabling expression
Arts-based researchSystematic use of artistic media
Sensitive co-labour-active methodologiesCollaborative practices uniting co-labour (“doing with”)
Engaged methodologyPolitically committed research carried out with oppressed groups
Community and good living practiceA situated practice combining assembly, workshop and action
Knowledge fishingIndigenous methodology
Human libraryEncounters between “human books” and “readers”
Citizen scienceCommunity-guided walks and mobile registration
Collaborative sound walksRoutes and co-created soundscapes
Public patient engagementStructured inclusion of patients or users in research design
Participatory designCo-design of solutions with users and key players
Participatory co-designA variant of participatory
Visual methodsUse of visual resources
Creative methodsPlayful or expressive techniques
Child-centred methodsAdapted protocols that position children as protagonists and co-analysts
Cultural animationProcesses of cultural mediation
Collective recovery of historical memoryTools for reconstructing subaltern memories
Participatory process in stagesSequence of phases with collective validation milestones
Participatory InquiryReflective research
Mixed participatory methodologyDeliberate combination of participatory instruments
PAR modelStructure that makes explicit the roles, timings and governance
Source(s): Authors' own work based on the 46 studies included in the review (2018–2024)

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