Community Based Research and worldwide mobilization: an action research experience in Italy

The contribution presents practices and discusses lessons learnt in social work and social policies courses in Italy, where community-based research initiatives were initiated as part of a European project over the last 4 years (the PERARES project). Such experiences build upon the example of ‘Science Shops’ which are “small entities that carry out scientific research in a wide range of disciplines - usually free of charge and - on behalf of citizens and local civil society”. (Living Knowledge, 2012, p. 1). The presentation will briefly examine what participatory community-based research looks like when applied to student dissertations and how it contributes to the development of sociological imagination. The process of setting up a ‘Science Shop’ like structure will be briefly presented and difficulties as well as potentialities will be discussed. Some key issues will be proposed for debate such as: 1. To what extent can students be civically engaged and how can universities promote such engagement? 2. What kind of initiatives can stimulate students’ and practitioners’ sociological imagination and foster their interest in research based practices and policies? 3. In what ways does CBR meet academic research standards and contribute to Higher Educational Institutions’ strategic objectives?