Action research –
What's cooking

ABOUT – ITALY

The Italian panel is composed of 11 young people, with different backgrounds, interests, ages and coming from different Italian regions. This brings diversity of experiences and opinions and triggers interesting discussions.

Young people's research projects are focusing on a variety of different topics: the management of the crisis, and the effects this has had on people's behaviour and mental health; the use of face masks and the symbolic meanings attached to it; why fake news spread so easily and how to contrast this phenomenon; how Covid-19 has impacted the way we see and live our cities, and how different age groups have dealt with the crisis.

Preferred research methods so far have been documentary research, interviews with peers, family members and professionals, as well as questionnaires designed by young people and administered via Google Forms. Target groups differed, reflecting young people's willingness to capture the experiences of different age groups and professions, and capitalising on young people's international networks (Argentina, France, Tunisia, and the USA). Animated group discussions have allowed panel members to share experiences and (often contrasting) ideas and give each other advice, and have provided them with a platform to express their voice, something they believe is too often missing.