This submodule gives an introductory presentation on participation action and participatory research methods. It provides a rationale: in this case looking at ethics and ideals of social justice and the way in which participatory methods are able to promote social justice.
Learning Objectives
- Identify different ways in which participation is done;
- Identify different methods of participatory research;
- Understand participation as an innovative tool for analyzing.
Key Concepts
1. Introduction to Participatory Research for Water Justice
It is essential when trying to deepen democratic processes to engage with citizens at the grass roots levels where decisions impact on everyday lives. This sub-module considers the ideas of participation and citizen voice and why and how these become issues of social justice. A just society is one where voice matters and where decisions are not simply made from the top down. The sub-module takes you through different techniques that can be deployed to capture voice, level the playing fields and create a more just society.
Watch the following video on Participatory Action Research presented by Abe Oudshoorn (please start the video from the beginning).
Key Readings
Key Readings
- Estrella & Gaventa (1998) - Who counts reality? Participatory monitoring and evaluation: A literature review
- GB Rossman (2000) - Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation
- Vernooy, Ronnie (1999) - Participatory monitoring and evaluation[PDF]
- Rocheleau (1994) - Participatory Research and the Race to Save the Planet: Questions, Critique, and Lessons from the Field
- S Kindon, R Pain, M Kesby (2008) - Participatory Action Research
- ML Walker (1993) - Participatory Action Research
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
- Some say (in fact it's Rocheleau 1994) that participation can be a wolf in sheep’s clothing - a vehicle for a new form of manipulation or intervention. In what instances do you think we could see participation as ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ and what exactly is meant by this expression within this context?
- In the same vein, Guijt and Shah (1998) claim that the language and practice of participation often obscures women’s worlds .. making participatory development an elusive goal. Why do you think Guijt and Shah refer to women’s worlds – and what do they mean by this statement
- In what ways could the goal of participatory development be achieved
Further Readings
Further readings
- Chambers, Robert (1997) Whose Reality Counts? Putting the Last First, London: IT Publications.
- Chambers, Robert (2005) Ideas for Development, London: Institute for Development Studies.
- Cornwall, Andrea, Karen Brock (2005) “What Do Buzzwords Do for Development Policy? A Critical Look at 'Participation', 'Empowerment' and 'Poverty Reduction',” Third World Quarterly 26(7): pp. 1043-1060.
- Parfitt, Trevor (2004) “The ambiguity of participation: a qualified defense of participatory development,” Third World Quarterly 25(3): pp. 537-556.
- Pretty, Jules N., Irene Guijt, et al. (1995) Participatory Learning and Action. A Trainer‟s Guide, London: International Institute for Environment and Development.
- Rahnema, Majid (1997) “Participation”, in Wolfgang Sachs (ed.) The Development Dictionary. A Guide to Knowledge as Power, New Delhi: Orient Longman Limited.
- Williams, Glyn (2004) “Evaluating participatory development: tyranny, power and (re)politicization,” Third World Quarterly 25(3): pp. 557-578.
Other related International Waters Lessons and Submodules
Next submodule: River of Life