RogerHart’sLadderofParticipation
RogerHart(1992) proposed thefirst comprehensive definitionoftheconcept ofparticipation,based onhis experiences inenvironmentalstudies.He described participation as theprocess ofsharing decisions that affectonelifeand thelifeofthecommunityinwhich one lives.Itisthemeansbywhichdemocracyisbuilt and itisastandard againstwhichdemocraciesshouldbemeasured.AccordingtoHart,participationisthe fundamentalrightofcitizenship.
ThekeyelementofHart’sdefinitionisdecision-making. He describes participation as a ladder,withlevels ofyouthinvolvement inprojects ranging fromnon-participation to full participation.He identifieseight levelsofparticipation, callingthistheLadderofParticipation.
Hart’sLadderofParticipation (Hart1992)
1.Manipulation: In this kind of participation, youth have nounderstanding oftheissuesand hencedonotunderstand theiractions.Theyareconsultedbutgivennofeedbackonhowtheideas theysharedduringtheconsultationareused.
2.Decoration:youthparticipationinvolvesproviding entertainmentthrough performances, or simplyproviding evidenceof theirinvolvement.
3.Tokenism.Here, youthappeartohaveavoice.Theyareinvitedto sitin conference panels as representatives of youthbutprovidednoopportunitytoformulatetheirideasonthesubjectofdiscussion. Likewisenoprocessenables themtoconsultwithotheryouththeyaresupposedtorepresent.
Thenextfivelevelsrepresent genuineparticipation. Hartdescribes howtheyouthisable toparticipatemeaningfullybythoroughly understandingand choosingtobecome involvedintheproject.
4. Assigned-but-informed:Thisrepresentsthefirstlevel of genuine participation. Here, youthunderstandtheintentionsoftheproject; theyknowwho made thedecision concerningtheirinvolvementand why;theyhaveameaningful role;and theyvolunteeredfortheproject afteritwasmadecleartothem.
5. Consulted-and-informed.Here, the project isdesigned andrunby adultsbutyouthunderstand theprojectand theiropinionsaretreatedseriously.
6. Adult-initiated,shared decisions with Youth:Althoughadults initiatedthe project, decision-making isshared withyoung people.
7. Youth-initiatedanddirected:youthcan initiateand directtheir ownprojectsprovided adultsareable toleaveyouth alone todesigntheirownprojects.
8. Youth-initiated,shared decisionswithadults.Thisisthehighestlevelofparticipation, according toHart’smodel.Here,youngpeople incorporateadultsintoprojectsthey havedesigned and managed. Hartdoesnotdifferentiateitfromtheother levelsofparticipation. He explainsthislevelby citingexampleandbysayingthatthiskindofparticipation isveryrare.
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