Multidisciplinary public health research can be challenging. Serious tensions can arise between participants in the research process regarding which approaches are best suited to research. Furthermore, choosing which methods to consider from a compendium of methods that are best suited for a study could be a herculean task to overcome due to the differences in interests and viewpoints of the various disciplines involved in public health research. (Saks, 2013). This could result in a pyramid of research approaches where one approach is considered by professionals to be more scientific and more relevant to public health than others. Research approaches have been observed in the past to have a vertical relationship with each other. In today's multidisciplinary public health, it is necessary to view them as a spectrum having a horizontal rather than vertical relationship. This could pose a challenge for a new researcher in the field who is not familiar with all of the approaches available and which are best applicable to a study. Furthermore, the experienced researcher who already has a particular approach and views others as inferior may not apply the best available approach to a study due to this bias. It is necessary for public health researchers to be adept in research methodology by reaching beyond the boundaries of their discipline and acquiring skills in a range of available approaches and possibly using a mixture of methods in order to effectively conduct research ( Daly, 1997). . As such, I will discuss research approaches in ethnography and participatory action relevant to multidisciplinary public health. I will examine their theoretical and epistemological foundations and reflect on their strengths and weaknesses. P. (2009) Managing change in healthcare: using action research. London: Sage21. Pigg, SL, 2013. Sit and do: ethnography as action in global health. Social sciences and medicine, .22. Pittaway, E., Bartolomei, L., Hugman, R. (2010) “stop stealing our stories”: the ethics of research with vulnerable groups. Journal of Human Rights Practice Vol 2. No.2.pp. 229 – 251. DOI: 10. 109323. Saks, M., Allsop, J. (2013) Health research: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. (2nd ed.). London: Sage24. Waterman, H., Tillen, D., Dickson, R., de Koning, K. (2001) “Action research”, a systematic review and guidance for evaluation”. Health technology assessment. 5(23)25. Winter, R., Munn-Giddings, C. (2001) a handbook of action research in health and social care. London: Routledge