Knowledge Democracy and Participatory Research
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://192.9.200.215:4000/handle/123456789/123
Welcome to the Knowledge Democracy and Participatory Research Community. This community serves as a comprehensive repository of resources on participatory approaches, community-based research, and collaborative inquiry methods. Our mission is to foster knowledge sharing and support initiatives that empower communities to contribute to research, ensuring their voices shape the knowledge that impacts their lives.
Explore a wealth of materials, including case studies, policy papers, training guides, and research publications that highlight the practice and principles of participatory research worldwide.
Browse
10 results
Search Results
Item Report on the International Forum on Participatory Research(International Council for Adult Education, 1980-04-13) Yugoslavia, LjubljanaYugoslavia was selected as the site for this event because of the unique emphasis which has been made there to the principles of self-management and self-government; principles which are totally complementary to the concept of participatory research. In addition, Yugoslavia, and the Republic of Slovenia in particular, have been true pioneers in a variety of adult education forms. It offered us a chance to bring together practitioners from other countries to a place where the principles of adult education and self-management for an equitable society are central tenets of the way of life. The decision to choose Yugoslavia was vindicated many times over as the supportive atmosphere and the freedom to speak openly generated a remarkable climate a unique experience for most of us. Ljubljana has joined the list of places where, in the short history of participatory research work, plans have been made, momentum established, ideas clarified and reasons for working re-emphasized. This has included Aurora, Ontario (Canada), London (U.K.), Ostgeest (Netherlands), Caracas (Venezuela), Kungälv (Sweden), New Market, Tennessee (USA), and Ayacucho (Peru).Item Participatory Research: An Alternative(0000)The term 'Participatory Research was first used in the context of adult education during the 1970s. Its articulation was an attempt to reinstate the underlying philosophy of adult education which several adult educators felt was being diluted in practice. Adult education is premised on a commitment to adults actively participating in the world, deciding what they want to learn and the best way they can learn is. The professional training adult educators receive however, along with and their engagement in systematic, empirical research distances them from learners and establishes a one-way control over the research process. Similar contradictions were being faced by other social scientists particularly those who had experienced the inadequacies of the conventional research methodology in explain the harsh realities faced by oppressed people around the world.Item Participatory Research and Popular Education in Africa(1983) Mustafa, KemalParticipatory research and popular education are critical frameworks for engaging oppressed communities in the study of their exploitation, aiming at fostering political consciousness and social transformation. This paper explores the theoretical underpinnings of participatory research as a component of historical materialist practice, its strategic importance in class struggle, and its role in bridging the divide between mental and manual labor. Emphasis is placed on the African context, examining its distinct experiences with participatory research in contrast to other regions such as Latin America. The evolution of participatory research in Africa, its integration into development projects, and the influence of colonial and neocolonial legacies are critically analyzed. The author also delves into debates surrounding methodologies, ideological differences, and the contributions of participatory research to social movements and national development.Item The Issue of Methodology in Participatory Research(International Forum on Participatory Research, 1980-04-13) Kassam, YusufThis paper examines the complexities and controversies surrounding the methodology of participatory research, highlighting key debates within social science research. It discusses the critiques of conventional positivist methodologies and contrasts them with the methodological underpinnings of participatory research, particularly its pragmatic and historical materialist approaches. Kassam explores the limitations, ideological orientations, and theoretical foundations of participatory research, advocating for an approach that emphasizes active community involvement, dialogue, and social change.Item African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, Mzumbe, End - 7th July 1979: Summary of points raised in discussion of Lead Paper I in Small Group I(African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, 1979-07-07) Miril, Ngugi waThis document summarizes the discussion of Lead Paper I, presented in Small Group I at the African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research. Chaired by Ngugi wa Mirii, with rapporteur Mama Roffeety, the group examined themes of development theory, the role of socialist and participatory approaches, and the influence of bourgeois theory on oppression. Key points included critiques of OBET (Official Bourgeois Economic Theory) for failing to empower the oppressed and discussions on linking theory to practical examples. The dialogue explored historical materialism, the role of the social scientist, and strategies for using participatory research to promote worker and peasant empowerment. The group emphasized research as an ideological tool for social transformation.Item African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July 1979(African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, 1979-07-07) Anacleti, A.This document details the presentation and critique of Lead Paper I, "The Concept of Development in the Social Sciences," at the African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research in Mzumbe. Presented by the workshop's preparatory committee, the paper lays a foundation for discussing development models in the social sciences, divided into sections on OBET, RS, HM, and Socialist Development. Key themes include critiques of capitalist property relations, the scarcity of resources, the universality of capitalist models, and the lack of adequate consideration for Third World specificities. The paper introduces theoretical perspectives on Dependency Theory, the Centre-Periphery Model, and dialectical materialism but receives critical feedback for lacking concrete action-oriented analysis and being too abstract for practical application.Item African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July, 1979: Lead Paper 2(1979-07) RaffestyThe lead paper outlines various research methodologies within social sciences, focusing on participatory research approaches tailored for African socio-economic contexts. It critiques dominant methodologies and emphasizes the need for methods that reflect local realities, social structures, and cultural contexts. A historical perspective on the evolution of research methodologies in Africa is provided, highlighting issues such as research centralization and knowledge commodification.Item African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July, 1979 – Group II Report on Lead Paper No. 1(1979-07-02)This Group II report from the African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research (Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July, 1979) addresses the group's response to Lead Paper No. 1, highlighting several key contradictions and challenges in participatory research. The group discusses the tension between problem-oriented research endorsed by government representatives and the participatory approaches advocated in the workshop. They recommend reordering the agenda to prioritize case studies before theoretical papers. The report emphasizes the dual role of researchers as ideologically driven change agents and their practical constraints in engaging with communities. The group also calls for further examination of the limitations and potential integration of historical materialism within participatory research.Item African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July, 1979 – Group II and IV Report on the Discussion of Lead Paper 3(1979-07-07) Matwi, M.This report from Group II and IV captures the in-depth discussion at the African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research (Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July, 1979) on Lead Paper 3, led by M. Matwi. Key issues discussed include the pressures faced by researchers within external socioeconomic and political forces, the role of class struggle in participatory research, and the ethical dimensions of research that includes community participation and alignment with action. The report raises critical questions about the motives behind research, the influence of funding agencies, and the challenge of turning research into meaningful action for community benefit. Examples from Tanzania and other African contexts underscore the need for research to foster self-development within communities, aligning with the philosophy of leaders like President Nyerere.Item African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July, 1979 – Group I & III Group Discussion Report on Lead Paper 3: The Methodology of the Participatory Research Approach(1979-07-07)This report documents the Group I & III Methodology discussion held during the African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research (Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July, 1979), focusing on Lead Paper 3, which critically examined the Participatory Research Approach (PRA). The discussion revolved around the issues of class struggle, the role of intellectuals from the petty bourgeoisie, and the potential for collaboration between intellectuals, workers, and peasants. The group also explored the relationship between theory and practice within historical materialism, stressing that participatory research must prioritize the interests of the people rather than contribute to their exploitation.