Participatory Document Analysis

Participatory Document Analysis is a qualitative research approach that systematically examines existing documents — such as policy records, reports, correspondence, and community archives — while actively involving community members or stakeholders as co-researchers in the selection, interpretation, and meaning-making processes. It merges the rigor of established document analysis techniques with the democratic ethos of participatory action research, ensuring that those most affected by the documents have voice in shaping what those documents mean.