PARTICIPATORY RURAL APPRAISAL DESIGN - CONCEPTUAL AND PROCESS ISSUES

Emphasis in many past Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRAs) has been p laced on the 'doing' dimension, with limited attention to the theoreti cal or conceptual underpinnings to process design. In this paper, conc eptual and process issues relating to design are discussed, using a PR A case experience in the Kyeamba Valley, New South Wales, Australia. T his design seeks to address issues embodied in notions of community, l ocal participation and learning experience. How PRA process design can manage interpretation of data, who is involved in that interpretation , and the intentions of analysis are discussed. Questions about the na ture and quality of change which could result from the conduct of PRA are raised.