An Innovative Exploration of Engagement using Participant Observation in an Outdoor Adventure Youth Development Programme

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated inconsistencies in Youth Development (YD) programme effectiveness, with some evaluations revealing null or even damaging effects. A number of scholars argue that as a critical change mechanism engagement can enhance positive outcomes for youth. Nevertheless, engagement is an elusive, emergent and multi-faceted concept which can be difficult to measure. Incorporating theory-driven direct observation methods, the current research uses Immersive Participant Observation (IPO) to explore the complexity of youth engagement in an Outdoor Adventure (OA) component of a New Zealand-based YD programme. The researcher lived alongside the programme participants for the full duration of a three-week OA component for two different deliveries of the multi-site YD programme. Observational data were recorded as field notes detailing the experiences of 24 youth participants (12 in each case) and their facilitators. Using thematic analysis, the field notes were examined and the factors that influence engagement and disengagement were identified at the group and the individual level. To ascertain an in-depth view of the unique experience of the participants’ engagement, narrative reports were developed depicting each participant’s trajectory of engagement and the factors that influenced each participant’s trajectory. Three trajectories of engagement were identified across the 24 participants. The thematic analysis revealed a number of similarities as well as contradictions between the current research and the literature. These similarities and contradictions provide support and additional insights regarding factors that influence youth engagement and disengagement, such as the observation that being given autonomy appeared to influence both concepts depending on the context. Furthermore, the findings provide evidence regarding the importance of measuring at engagement at both a group and an individual level. Finally, the novel IPO methodology highlights the importance of observational methods in gaining a deeper understanding of complex phenomena in YD programmes and in other settings. Overall, the knowledge generated from the research contributes importantly to our understanding of engagement from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Implications for YD theory, research and practice are discussed.