PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH METHODS - IMPLEMENTATION, EFFECTIVENESS AND INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

This paper outlines some of the main issues and debates in participato ry research and participatory technology development, concentrating on implementation. Arguments in favour of farmer participatory research (FPR) are examined as are a number of difficulties. An important quest ion is the extent to which the findings generated by location-specific , participatory research are applicable and transferable to similar sy stems elsewhere. Issues of data analysis and use of statistics in part icipatory research are discussed. Modern statistical methods have a us eful role in participatory research, but knowledge of these is limited due to the lack of suitable texts and, until recently, the lack of ea sily accessible computer software. Assessing the effectiveness of part icipatory 'methods' is difficult as they are context sensitive. The re sources needed for collaborative participatory work are often underest imated and methodologies for monitoring and evaluation have been parti cularly weak. The development of linkages between participatory resear ch projects and national research organisations is not straightforward and does not always lead to the institutionalisation of participatory approaches. Integration of participatory methods into differing insti tutional contexts requires management innovation, skill development an d new working procedures. Critical areas are. building institutional l inkages, maintaining communication, and co-ordination and management a nd monitoring of participatory research. Significant increases in devo lved participatory research approaches are unlikely in the absence of strong farmers' organisations and intermediary organisations. A number of suggestions for. further research are made. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.