The role of reflexive and relational spaces in exploring the contradictions and challenges in co-producing research

Co-producing research with young people presents contradictions and challenges. Reflexive and relational spaces are essential to exploring and addressing these. Reflecting on the evolution of our co-production approach over the two phases of our study on growing up in coastal towns in the UK, we argue that reflexive, relational spaces are essential to recognise and respond to co-researchers’ diverse objectives, needs, knowledge and skills, and to address emerging contradictions and challenges, to build trust and mutual understanding, to learn from each other and to review and refine the research design as an ongoing, iterative process. This increases the possibilities of co-production for creating different kinds of impact, including on co-researchers’ skills and knowledge (at individual and team levels), and on relevant substantive knowledge, with potential for influencing policy.