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Co-operative inquiry: Making research inclusive and accessible
https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/co-operative-inquiry
What is Co-operative inquiry
Co-operative inquiry is a participatory and inclusive method, pioneered by Reason and Heron (e.g., Reason, 1994; Reason & Heron, 1995) which supports in-dept conversations about a focus area. Co-operative inquiry comprises of four phases which are cycled through iteratively (Please see Figures 1, 2 and 3 below).
Figure 1.
Example 1: A co-designed graphic representation of the four phases of co-operative inquiry (International Network of Co-operative Inquirers, 2025; Pascoe et al., 2023; Reason, 1994; Reason & Heron, 1995; Short & Healy, 2017)
Figure 2.
Example 2: A co-designed graphic representation of the four phases of co-operative inquiry within an inquiry, action and reflection context (International Network of Co-operative Inquirers, 2025; Pascoe et al., 2023; Reason, 1994; Reason & Heron, 1995; Short & Healy, 2017)
Figure 3.
Example 3: A co-designed graphic representation of the four phases of co-operative inquiry and how it leads to transformational knowledge (International Network of Co-operative Inquirers, 2025; Pascoe et al., 2023; Reason, 1994; Reason & Heron, 1995; Short & Healy, 2017)
An inquiry ends with the sharing of knowledge. Many people who co-inquire together will end an inquiry by writing a journal article. The following informal lecture shares ideas on how to do this.
While the following audio recourding is an informal panel discussion sharing ideas on the participatory writing approach commonly employed by us in the International Network of Co-operative Inquirers.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxj5NII9AkI&t=14s
Training: Co-operative inquiry workshop handout
Some further reading and resources explaining the research methodology
- By pioneers of co-operative inquiry
Reason, P., & Heron, J. (nd). A short guide to co-operative inquiry. www.human-inquiry.com/cishortg.htm *This website provides a simple and succinct overview of the co-operative inquiry methodology.
Reason, P. (1994). Co-operative Inquiry, Participatory Action Research & Action Inquiry: three approaches to participative inquiry, in N. K Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Ed.), Handbook of Qualitative Research. Sage. *This chapter describes co-operative inquiry in the context of other participative research methods.
Reason, P. & Heron, J. (1995). Co-operative Inquiry. In Harre, R., Smith, J. & Van Langenhove, L. (Ed., pp. 122-142). Rethinking Methods in Psychology. Sage.
- By INCInq members
Russ, E., Petrakis, M., Whitaker, L., Fitzroy, R., & Short, M. (2024). Co-operative inquiry: Qualitative methodology transforming research ‘about’ to research ‘with’ people. Qualitative Research, online, https://doi.org/10.1177/14687941241234272.
Short, M. (2018). The co-operative inquiry research method: A lived experience. In M. Pawar, W. Bowles, & K. Bell (Eds.). Social Work: Innovations and insights (pp. 232-244). Australian Scholarly Publishing.
Short, M., & Healy, J. (2017). Writing ‘with’ not ‘about’: Examples in co-operative inquiry. In S. Gair & A.V. Luyun (Eds.). Sharing Qualitative Research: Showing lived experience and community narratives. (pp. 188-203). Routledge.
Examples of PhDs using co-operative inquiry
Short, M. (2021). The Anglican Church of Australia engaging with people living with disabilities and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in rural, regional and remote communities. (Doctoral Thesis, Charles Sturt University). https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/publications/the-anglican-church-of-australia-engaging-with-people-living-with/
Davis, K. A. (2019). Co-researching with people living with dementia: A co-operative inquiry. (Doctoral Thesis, The University of Manchester). https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/248790448/FULL_TEXT.PDF
Howard, A. (2009). Language, Practice and Power: The Emergence of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Sydney).
Publications utilising the co-operative methodology that inspire our community and/or its principles
Short, M., McDonald, A., Nicoll, C., Woodcock, M., Winter, R., Spence, C., & Brown, N. (2025). Building Social Work Practitioner Research Capacity in a Health Service: An Inquiry. Australian Social Work, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2025.2587737
Short, M., Rush, E., Dixon, E., Ivory, N., Bonner, M., Ansell, S., Hemsted, J., Cotter, G.(2025). Industry Partners’ Summary of Research, Impact and Resources Report: Effective recruitment, retention, and wellbeing of non-government organisation rural mental health staff: A pilot study. A Recruitment, Retention Researchers publication. https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/publications/industry-partners-summary-of-research-impact-and-resources-report
Morris, B., Petrakis, M., Lue, J., Velander, F., Rocca, A., Clark, C., Deacon, E., Smith, F., & Whitaker, L. (2025). Transformative Mental Health Social Work Practice: What, When, and with Whom Do We Learn? Research on Social Work Practice, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251394279
Nisbet, S., Goode, E., Russ, E., Haw, J., Rollin, R., & Nieuwoudt, J. (2025). Supporting academic development during curriculum change: A co-operative inquiry of identity and engagement. International Journal for Academic Development, 30(3), 350-363.https://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2025.2469303
Berger, L., Evans, S., Lambert, C., Russ, E., Petrakis, M., Whitaker, L., Walters, C., Reimer, L., Woolven, M., & Short, M. (2025). Leading and participating: Examining collaborative leadership. In R. Miller, C. Mangan, H. Dickinson, & C. Jackson (Eds.), Research handbook on leadership in social work and social care (pp. 139–150). Edward Elgar Publishing
Garratt, J., McDonnell, E., Horan, F., Mackell, P., Perrin, J., Craven, M., Staughton, S., Richardson, A., Lowe, R. & Short, M. (2025). Reflecting on Social Work Practice in the Northern Territory, Australia. Australian Social Work, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2024.2393321
Rose, J., Halton, C., Morley, L., & Short, M. (2024). Bridging Boundaries to Acquire Research and Professional Skills: Reflecting on the Impact and Experiences of Technology-Enabled Collaborative Cross-Institutional and Transnational Social Work Placement Projects. Social Sciences, 13(12), 659.
Rose, J., Short., M., Russ, E., Petrakis, M., & Halton, C. (2024). Participatory research upholding collaboration in research and practice in social work field education. In Spišák, S. (ed.) ECQI2024. Participation, collaboration and cocreation: Qualitative inquiry across and beyond divides. Congress Proceedings. 7th European Congress for Qualitative Inquiry 2024. Helsinki: Helsinki University. https://storage.googleapis.com/smooty-1220.appspot.com/uploads/4112/1718106409_ECQI2024Proceedings.pdfhttps://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13120659
Short, M., Gilbert, D.G.J., Emmanuel, A., Ganda, J., Grove, C., Ihesiulor, C., McCarthy, A., Moloney, C., Roberts, E., and Smedley, T. (2024). Group work anthology: A free resource for busy practitioners, students, volunteers and academics. Charles Sturt University. https://opentext.csu.edu.au/groupwork/
Russ, E., Petrakis, M., Whitaker, L., Fitzroy, R., & Short, M. (2024). Co-operative inquiry: Qualitative methodology transforming research ‘about’ to research ‘with’ people. Qualitative Research, online, https://doi.org/10.1177/14687941241234272
Short, M., Anderson, J., Hamersley, G., Royce, E., & Anderson, J. (2024). The lived experience of rural churches pastorally caring for farmers and graziers: a practical theology conversation. Practical Theology, online, 1–16. (https://doi.org/10.1080/1756073X.2024.2337969
Pawar, M., Osburn, L., Short, M., & Mlcek, S. (2024). Integrating four teaching and learning methods to deliver transformational social work education online. Social Work Education, online, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2024.2372393. Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02615479.2024.2372393
McLaughlin, A., Pascoe, E., Lawson, L., Parker, L., Whalan, T., Safdar, T., Beeton, G., Kennedy, R., Ivory, N., Morley, L., Halton, H., Russ, E., Gartshore, S., Short, M., (2024) A new perspective regarding the impact of rural disadvantage on accessing services: Hearing the Australian and Irish social work student voice. Advances in Social Work & Welfare Education, online. https://www.journal.anzswwer.org/index.php/advances/article/view/305/275
Whitaker, L., Petrakis, M., Smith, F., Deacon, E., Simboli, T., Lue, J., Clark, C., Velander, F., Rocca, A., Morris, B., (2024) Mental health social work practice: Navigating tensions. British Journal of Social Work. Advance publication bcae051, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcae051
Davis, K A. (2023). Overcoming Stigma in the Neighbourhood: Learning lessons from a co-operative inquiry led by people living with dementia’. In: J. Keady (Ed). Reconsidering Neighbourhoods and Living with Dementia: Spaces, Places, and People. (pp. 87–105). Open University Press, McGraw Hill.
URL: https://www.mheducation.co.uk/reconsidering-neighb…
Walters, C., Lambert, C., Pankhurst, J., Irving, S., Alvarez, A., & Petrakis, M. (2023). Improving family social and mental wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: the case for deep listening. Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, 34(2), 114–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/02185385.2023.2175717
Godden, N., Peter, S. (2023). The Love Ethic: Love and Activism for Ecosocial Justice. Contemporary Love Studies in the Arts and Humanities: What’s Love Got to Do with it? (1-14). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26055-1_1.
Short, M., Halton, C., Morris, B., Rose, J., Whitaker, L., Russ, E., Fitzroy, R., Appleton, C., Adamson, C., Woolven, M., Rush, E., Ivory, N., Berger, L., Morton, N., Duncombe, R., & Boyd. B., (2022). Enablers, markers, and aspects of quality innovative placements across distance: insights from a co-operative inquiry, Social Work Education, DOI: 10.1080/02615479.2022.2060959
Osburn, L., Short, M., Gersbach,K., Velander, F., Mungai, N., Moorhead, B., Mlcek, S., Dobud, W., Duncombe, R., Kalache, L., Gerstenberg, L., Lomas, G., Wulff, E., Ninnis, J., Morison, A., Falciani, K. & Pawar, M. (2021). Teaching social work skills-based learning online during and post COVID-19. Social Work Education, An international journal, online.
Morris, B., Short, M., Bridges, D., Crichton, M., Velander, F., Rush, E., Iffland, B. & Duncombe, R. (2021). Responding to student mental health challenges during and post-COVID-19, Social Work Education, An international journal, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2021.1962271
Godden, N. (2021). Community work, love and the indigenous worldview of buen vivir in Peru. International Social Work, 64(3), 354-370. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872820930254.
Duncombe, R., Fay, J., Gould, G., Fay, C., Fay, M., Harrington, J., Mount, K., Neale, B., Ryan, J., Arnold, S. (2020) Developing inclusion in a small town food service. Chapter 7 in Crisp, B. and Taket, A. Sustaining social inclusion, Routledge
Kime, K., & Short, M. (2019). Engaging with Aboriginal peoples: Challenging inequality in the rural Australian Anglican Church from a sociological, social work and theological perspective. Australasian Pentecostal Studies Journal, 20(2019), 35-54. Retrieved from https://aps-journal.com/index.php/APS/article/view/9535
Short, M., Trembath, K. S., Duncombe, R., Whitaker, L., & Wiman, G. (2018). Contemporizing teaching case management: Mapping the tensions. Social Work Education: The International Journal, online(August), 1-15.
Short, M., Dempsey, K., Ackland, J., Rush, E., Heller, E., & Dwyer, H. (2018). What is a person? Deepening students’ and colleagues’ understanding of person-centeredness. Advances in Social Work & Welfare Education, 20(1), 139-156.
Short, M. (2018). The co-operative inquiry research method: A lived experience. In M. Pawar, W. Bowles, & K. Bell (Eds.), Social work: Innovations and insights. (pp. 232-244). North Melbourne, Vic: Australian Scholarly Publishing.
Godden, N. (2018). Community work research through co-operative inquiry in Timor-Leste, Australia and Peru: Insights into process. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 31(1), 55-73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-017-9420-0.
Godden, N. (2018). ‘Love in community work in rural Timor-Leste: a co-operative inquiry for a participatory framework of practice. Community Development Journal, 53(1), 78-98. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsw022.
Short, M., Seiffert, M., Haynes, R., & Haynes, L. (2018). Church, Disability, and Rurality: The Lived Experience. Journal of Disability and Religion, 18(1), 1-26.
Short, M., Barton, H., Cooper, B., Woolven, M., Loos, M. & Devos, J. (2017). The power of the case study within practice, education and research. Advances in Social Work & Welfare Education. 19(1): p. 92-106
Short, M., & Healy, J. (2017). Writing ‘with’ not ‘about’: Examples in Co-operative Inquiry. In S. Gair & A. V. Luyun (Eds.), Sharing Qualitative Research: Showing Lived Experience and Community Narratives. (pp. 188-203). London, UK: Routledge.
Tillotson, N., Short, M., Ollerton, J., Hearn, C and Sawatzky, B. (2017). Faith matters: From a disability lens. Journal of Disability and Religion. 21(3): p. 319-337.
Short, M., Broughton, G., Short, M., Ochala, Y., & Anscombe, B. (2017). Connecting to belonging: A cross-disciplinary inquiry into rural Australian Anglican Church engagements with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Journal of Contemporary Religion. 32(1), 119-133.
Godden, N. (2017). The love ethic: A radical theory for social work practice. Australian Social Work, 70(4), 405-416. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2017.1301506.
Godden, N. (2017). The participation imperative in co-operative inquiry: personal reflections of an initiating researcher. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 30(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-016-9387-2.
Godden, N. (2017). A co-operative inquiry about love using narrative, performative and visual methods. Qualitative Research, 17(1), 75-94. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794116668000.
Jones-Mutton, T., Short, M., Bidgood, T., & Jones, T. (2015). Field Education: Off-site social work supervision in rural, regional and remote Australia. Advances in Social Work & Welfare Education, 17(1), 83-97.
Healy, J., Tillotson, N., Short, M., & Hearn, C. (2015). Social work field education: Believing in supervisors who are living with disabilities. Disability and Society, 30(7), 1087-1102.
Hearn, C., Short, M., & Healy, J. (2014). Social Work Field Education: Believing in Students who are living with a Disability. Disability and Society, 29(9), 1343-1355.
