Good and bad practice in participatory research

"The best of both worlds: representativeness and insight?"

Term Paper , 2008 , 12 Pages , Grade: distinction

Politics - Topic: Development Politics

Development research serves different purposes – from informing policy-making on a macro level, to conducting large scale poverty assessments of countries and regions, and planning, managing, evaluating and impact assessment of development projects and programs. Since the 1970s, participatory research methods have become increasingly important in this field. Whereas initially they were used to inform project practice on the micro-level, they are now also used to inform policy making and enhance governance. “They moved from the margins of development practice to the very heart of development mainstream” (Mikkelsen 2005: 58).

Participatory research can be seen as the methodological basis of participatory development. However, there is ongoing debate on whom those methods inform – the instrumental practice of aid/ governmental agencies (‘participation as means’) or the local communities themselves, providing them with the means to conduct their development (‘participation as end’). This ambiguity is the main reason why a coherent definition of participatory development and research does not exist. The notion 'participatory' is blurred and definitions differ widely. Common to most definitions is the view that an active involvement of stakeholders will enhance development research and projects. An important advantage of participatory research is seen in the deeper insight into local life and needs. Chapter 2 of this paper will outline the different aspects of the concept and will discuss good and bad practices in participatory research, paying particular attention to the conflict between participation as means and as end.

The wider scope of current participatory research led to the need for valid and robust data gathered through participative research methods which raises the question for the representat¬iveness of participatory gathered data. Chambers claims that participatory research can provide the “best of both worlds” (2001: 25) – as it meets the requirements of deeper holistic insight represented by qualitative research and representativeness, represented by quantitative approaches. In Chapter 3 the scope of qualitative and quantitative approaches and to which extent Chambers claim is cogent will be discussed.

Having analysed participation from those different analytical perspectives, this paper will argue that participation is a contested field and cannot meet expectations from all competing interests.

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• Participatory research – good and bad practices.
• Participatory research – history and principles
• Principles of RRA/ PRA as good practices
• Good practices (participation as means)
• Good Practices (participation as end)
• Criticisms of participatory research and bad practises
• Bad practices – participatory research as mean
• Bad practices – participatory research as end
• The best of both worlds - representativeness and insight
• Qualitative vs. quantitative methods – insight vs. representativeness
• Participatory research - best of both worlds?
• Conclusion - participation, a contested field
• Literature

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This paper critically assesses the extent to which participatory research can provide the "best of both worlds": representativeness and insight. It examines the history, principles, and criticisms of participatory research, focusing on the debate between participation as a means to improve development research and projects and participation as an end in itself, empowering local communities. The paper also explores the relationship between qualitative and quantitative methods in participatory research and the potential for participatory approaches to achieve both representativeness and deeper insight.

• Good and bad practices in participatory research
• The debate between participation as means and participation as end
• The relationship between qualitative and quantitative methods in participatory research
• The potential for participatory research to achieve both representativeness and insight
• The contested nature of participation in development research

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The introduction outlines the different purposes of development research and the increasing importance of participatory research methods since the 1970s. It highlights the debate surrounding the definition of participatory development and research, particularly the ambiguity between participation as a means to improve development research and projects and participation as an end in itself, empowering local communities.

Chapter 2 explores the history of participatory research, highlighting its emergence as an alternative to 'conventional' development research and practice. It introduces the main methodologies and principles of participatory research, including Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). The chapter discusses good practices in participatory research, emphasizing the importance of local knowledge, flexible methods, and empowering approaches. It also examines criticisms of participatory research, focusing on issues such as the potential for bias, the exclusion of marginalized groups, and the limitations of participatory approaches in addressing power structures.

Chapter 3 examines the relationship between qualitative and quantitative methods in participatory research, exploring the potential for participatory approaches to achieve both representativeness and deeper insight. It discusses the strengths and limitations of both qualitative and quantitative methods, arguing that participatory research can offer a unique combination of both approaches.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text include participatory research, development research, good and bad practices, representativeness, insight, qualitative methods, quantitative methods, participation as means, participation as end, empowerment, and the contested nature of participation.

• College: University of Manchester (Institute for Development Policy and Management)
• Course: Development Research
• Grade: distinction
• Author: Cynthia Dittmar (Author)
• Publication Year: 2008
• Pages: 12
• Catalog Number: V131934
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640378227
• ISBN (Book): 9783640378661
• Language: English
• Tags: partcicipatory research, participatory approaches, participation, development