Action Research for Rural Development

1. Action Research for Rural Development Nuntiya Hutanuwatr Narong Hutanuwatr Faculty of Agriculture UbonRatchathani University Thailand

2. Topics in This Presentation 1. Introduction 2. PAR 2.1 Origin of PAR 2.2 Definition of PAR 2.3 Concept of PAR 2.4 The concept of PAR 2.5 Procedures of PAR or Action Research

3. Topics in This Presentation 3. “practical” action research 3.1 Why research 3.2 What made a good researcher 3.3 Report of development work vs. Report of academic action research vs. report of “practical” action research 3.4 Academic action research vs. “Practical” action research 3.5 How to convert your development work into “practical” actionresearch

4. Section oneIntroduction

5. 1.1 Research world • Natural Science research • Pure science research e.g. physics, biology • Applied science research e.g. agriculture, engineering • Social science research

6. Social Science Research positivist social science interpretivist social science critical social science Quantitative research Qualitative research Critical action research

7. 1.2 Quantitative research • Objectives of this type of Research • To investigate or confirm general conclusions or concepts for explaining, forecasting or controlling some behaviors of a population

8. 1.2 Quantitative research (cont.) • Approaches and Patterns of this type of research • Based on preplanned specific research plans to investigate or prove research issues • Relying mainly on measurable quantitative data • Applying quantitative statistical methods in analyzing and testing the reliability of the findings • Research results from samples can begeneralized for their population

9. 1.3 Qualitative research • Objectives of this type of Research • To understand and give the meaning of social behaviors or phenomena in certain contexts

10. 1.3 Qualitative research (cont.) • Approaches and Patterns of this type of research • Based on flexible research plans developed during the course of the investigation • Relying mainly on data relating to emotions, world view, meaning, and culture • Generally applied to human social phenomena or human behavior phenomena • Primary data gathered by researchers themselves and put into context in order to understand the whole picture

11. 1.4 Qualitative research (cont.) Research results leading to conclusive patterns based on the depth of data, analysis and synthesis

12. 1.4 Critical action research • Objectives of this type of Research • To challenge existing beliefs and to empower social change agents by dialectic methods e.g. using critical dialogue with all stakeholders

13. 1.4 Critical action research (cont.) • Approaches and Patterns of this type of research • Based on more aggressive approaches • Based on more stimulating tools e.g. • Reflective methods - reflection & criticism lead to changes • Dialectic techniques – critical dialogue • Research respondents (stakeholders) must participate in the process of thinking, learning, possessing, realizing & accepting • Based on qualitative method, quantitative method, or both

14. 1.4 Critical action research (cont.) • Research results leading to critical conclusions revealing real condition of the problems & to the realization of better solutions which leads to changes

15. Which research methodology to be used is based on the nature of a particular research topic. No one method is better than another and some research topics may need more than one research methods. Integration of a number of research methods to achieve accurate and useful knowledge is the present trend.

16. Section two Participatory Action Research

17. PAR or Participatory Action Researchis equivalent toR & D (Research for Development)

18. 2.1 Origin of PAR It was originated from • Research areas basing on critical social science paradigm • Action research

19. 2.1 Origin of PAR (cont.) : Research areas basing on critical social science paradigm • Emphasize the process of challenging existing beliefs and empowering changes basing on equity (social justice) • These changes start from changes in practice and lead to changes in belief or paradigm • It is a proactive research approach based on self reflection and critical dialogues • Research respondents must participate in the process of thinking, learning, owning, realizing & accepting • There are names for this research area e.g. “critical social research”, “liberal research”, “research for conscientization (Paolo Friere)”

20. 2.1 Origin of PAR (cont.) : Action Research • Kurt Lewin (1946)first presented the action research process systematically in the area of social psychology • Lewin’s action research model was composed of cycles of actions, namely, “1 investigating data, forming thinking frameworkand operational plan”, “2 implementing”, “3 evaluating” and “4 reflecting”. This cycle may repeat itself a number of times until the problem is solved. This cycle will result in “knowledge”.

21. reflect plan act observe Compositionof Action Research Model of Lewin • 1 Plan=investigate and plan for changes • 2 Act=implement the plan • 3 Observe=observe the outcome of the action • 4 Reflect=use the outcome to adapt the plan and action In actual practice, the four compositions may not occur in order and may have some overlapping.

22. 2.2 The definition of PAR • PAR was originated (among some groups of social development researchers) with the strong intention (1) to be free from the influence of conventional social science research and (2) to revive societies based on a Critical Social Science Paradigm

23. 2.2 The definition of PAR • PAR is critical social research with full freedom of thinking • PAR is social research to empower marginalized sectors in society • PAR replaces those conventional social research witch has seldom solved the problems of the marginalized society • PAR is popular nowadays but its authentic objectives may be watered down by users

24. 2.3 The basic beliefs ofPAR • Local people themselves have the potential to mentally and manually cooperate for change and improvement in their communities • Knowledge, skills and resources are shared for fair distribution and supporting fair social structures • Strong mutual intention of participants from the community and non-native researchers is essential for effective change • The intended changes must based on peaceful means and balance social and nature

25. 2.4 The concept of PAR • PAR is a social participatory process • PAR is liberating and encourages self determination, thinking for themselves and is a conscientization process • PAR is participatory– especially the participation of villagers in the communities that are being researched (respondents) • PAR is a process of critical reflection among researchers and the participants • PAR is recursive — (repeating the application of a rule, definition or procedure to successive results) • PAR is a practical process of gaining knowledge that leads to actual changes

26. 2.5 Procedures of PAR or Action Research • Develop research questions from actual problems • Define research objectives • Review theories or hypotheses and literatures involved • Define conceptual framework • Develop data collecting tools and collect the data • Verify the collected data and primarily analyze the verified data • Perform the needed action • Collect additional data • Final analysis and synthesis • Write the research report

27. PAR vs Action Research

28. Develop research questions from actual problems • Research questions require research methods in finding their answers or not • Research questions must be derived from actual problemsof the target group • Research questionsshould reveal hidden facts • Research questionsshould challenge changes for improvement or superiority

29. 2. Define research topic & objectives • Derive research topic from the research questions • Derive research objectives from the research questions • Research objectives should be concise, clear and unambiguous • The first defined objectives must not too rigid and can be modified to fit the actual findings found in the field • The research objectives should not too broad or too many but match well with budget, time and man power

30. Example 1 (not yet finished) Research question : What are the roles of women in decision making in household /group /community levels for more sustainable development? Research topic : The role of women in decision making leading to sustainable community development Research objectives : • To investigate the existing roles of women in decision making at household, group and community levels and their obstacles • To empower women to increase roles in decision making leading to sustainable household, group and community development

31. Example 2 (not yet finished) Research question : How to make indigenous farming practices sustain against main stream of agricultural development in Kayan tribe? Research topic : Strengthening indigenous farming practices to sustain against main stream of agricultural development in Kayantribec Research objectives : • To investigate the strength and weakness of existing indigenous farming practices of Kayan tribe • To raise awareness of Kayan tribe people the essence of indigenous farming practices • To improve the efficiency of indigenous organic farming practices

32. Example 3 (not yet finished) Research question : Why are farmers still in debt while they have been working very hard? And what are the solutions? Research topic : Integrated organic farming approach for alleviating farmers’ poverty Research objectives : • To raise awareness of farmers through investigating the main causes of poverty caused by the existing farming practice • To investigate the application of integrated organic farming approach to alleviate their poverty

33. Example 4 (not yet finished) Research question : How can villagers get the land title from the Government? Research topic : Problems and solutions in the process of getting land title for Northern Shan villagers Research objectives : 1. To empower Northern Shan villagers’ land right by investigating the successful cases in getting land title in Myanmar 2. To apply the findings to four villages in Northern Shan for getting land title and to investigate problems and solutions involved The original objectives = objectives of a development project • At least 4 villages in Northern Shan are granted solid legal documents of entitlement of their land • 70% of community population in the target villages are given awareness on land laws and land rights and they are able to follow and benefit from these laws and rights

34. 3. Review theories or hypotheses and literatures involved • Review literaturesrelated to the research questions to find : • There may be no obvious answers • There may beonly partial answers • There may be obsolete answers requiring new verification • There may be answersin different conditions • There may besimilar or contradictory findings

35. 3. Review theories or hypotheses and literatures involved (cont.) • Consider the need of applying relevant theories or hypotheses to the findings to make them more meaningful • Apply relevant theories or hypotheses as guidelines to the wanted answers in the conceptual framework • Prove or disproverelevant theories or hypotheses

36. 3. Review theories or hypotheses and literatures involved (cont.) • Sources of information needed • Libraries • On-line journals, abstracts, books • Internet ??? • Experts • tAdvisors • Local wisdom Read & extract everything related to the research topic. It may take months or year

37. 4. Define conceptual framework and research methodology • Derive research conceptual framework from literatures and theories or hypotheses reviewed • Use this conceptual framework asguideline in finding answers to research questions

38. Example of Conceptual Framework of “STRATEGY FORMULATION THROUGH SWOT ANALYSIS Study” • Analysis of the current strategies employed by the farmer groups • Studying the process of formulating future strategies, through action research and SWOT process • Analysis of future strategies developed through SWOT process

43. 5. Develop data collecting tools and collect the data • Kinds of data needed, e.g. • Quantitative data • Qualitative data • Methods for collecting data • Define detailed questions from issues or variables in the research conceptual framework • Develop data collection tools from these detailed questions

45. Define detailed questions from variables in the research conceptual framework

46. 5. Develop data collection tools and collect data (cont.): Field work • Define the appropriate status and roles of the researchers • Create good relationships with local community

47. 5. Develop data collection tools and collect data: Some data collection techniques • Semi structured interview form • Community history • People stories • Socio-Physical maps • Community activities calendar • Focus groups

48. 5. Develop data collecting tools and collect the data (cont.): Semi structured interview • Informal interviews–make it like normal conversation • Use prepared main topics as guidelines for the conversation. Consequent or detailed questions (in-depth conversation) will emerge as the conversation progresses (not prepared detailed questions) • This will be an holistic and continuous interview

49. 5. Develop data collection tools and collect data (cont.):Semi structured interview(cont.) Procedure of interview • Preparation • Create sub topics (from main topics) • Form an interview teamwith task assignments • Set agreements on interviewing rules • Ensure interview team have common understanding of each question they will ask

50. 5. Develop data collection tools and collect data (cont.):Semi structured interview(cont.) Procedure of interview (cont.) • Create trust and cooperation of the respondents • Self introduction along with the objective of the interview • If possible, the interviewers should make themselves familiar with the respondentsby joining some community activities or staying in the community for a while