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Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
There are three sets of ideas: (1) Evolution and development is 'Adaptive Change' rather than progress; solutions to one problem generally sow the seeds of another set of problems. Hence, constant process of adaptations. (2) Dependency of any system on the flow of information, especially about the differences between ideal and the actual, between intended and the actual outcome and also to react to new information in a timely manner. (3) Different groups of people have different perception of reality; although it does not imply one being right and another being wrong yet they are necessarily incomplete and imperfect. Taken together, these three sets of ideas contribute to a development paradigm in a changing world.
There is need for a technology that can be adapted to solve local problems to engender constant feedback from existing rural situations and to take advantage of a larger knowledge base. For this purpose, the decision makers, especially those who are involved in development process, need constant flow of information that is relevant, timely, accurate and usable. Moreover, it should be obtained at reasonable cost.
There are two sets of inappropriate research methods;
(i) Quick & Dirty (dirty here means not cost effective) - essentially rural development tourism having biases of (a) place (b) project (c) personal contact (d) dry season and (e) politeness and protocol.
Defects of quick and dirty surveys are:
i. Lack of rapport and misleading replies by the respondents
ii. Failure to listen by 'Outsiders'
iii. Overlooking 'Invisible'
iv. Seeing only 'Snapshot'.
"The prosperity after harvest of a small farmer on a project besides a main road close to a capital city may colour the perception of a succession of influential officials and foreigners. The plight of a poor widow starving and sick during the wet season in a remote and inaccessible area may never in any way impinge on the consciousness of anyone outsider her own community and not even all of them." - ROBERT CHAMBERS.
(ii) Long and dirty - It is much longer and more costly, often involving the collection of voluminous data. But some surveys are also clean.
PRA is fairly quick and fairly clean. Its role is to understand and appreciate the knowledge, concerns and priorities of rural inhabitants and to articulate these with those of scientists and other 'Outsiders'.
PRA is a methodology for improving the cost effectiveness, timeliness and quality of rural development related research.
Principles of PRA
i) Optimal ignorance i.e. Not to know what is not worth knowing.
ii) Appropriate imprecision because often only the order of magnitude or direction of change is used.
iii) Triangulation - To see intentionally different points of view of the same thing. Three major dimensions
(a) Team composition to view the same information from different perspectives
(b) Units of observation - nonrandom selection, stratification, etc.
(c) different research methods to improve the quality of information and to cross-check the information e.g. direct observation combined with semi-structured interview.
- Exploratory interactive and flexible research - Be ready to abandon old hypothesis and to form new ones to explore whenever needed.
- Rapid and progressive learning & Use of indigenous knowledge - Avoid strict sampling, formal questionnaires, massive survey but at the same time do not haste - Listening and learning - Treat villagers as teachers. Off-setting the Biases - Be the unimportant and avoid the best-village garland-speeches syndrome. Include women in appraisal team.
Application of PRA
- (1) To explore, identify and diagnose rural situations, problems and issues
- (2) To design, implement, monitor and evaluate programmes or issues and problems.
- (3) To identify and mobilise intended groups and evoke their participation in decision making, project design, execution, monitoring and evaluation.
- (4) To assist in policy formulation and decision making
- (5) To respond to emergencies and disasters
- (6) To help develop, extend and transfer technology
- (7) To improve, supplement or complement other types of research
Techniques Methods ofPRA
(1) Use existing available information - both primary and secondary
(2) Learn from rural people
(3) Identifying and using key indicators
(4) Exchange of information within inter-disciplinary teams and with villagers
(5) Adhoc research by local knowledgeable people
(6) Direct observation
(7) Group interviews
(8) Key informants
(9) Formal interviews - without any questionnaire or guided interview with a checklist
(10) Use of aerial inspections, surveys, map etc.
(11) Mapping, diagramming, modelling, charts (Venn or Chapati)
(12) Transect walk, do-it-yourself, profiles, time-trend/line, ranking,sequencing, scoring, impact analysis
(13) Case study, historical profile/transect etc.
Major activities/Stages of PRA
1. Preparatory work - selection of the team, collection and examination of the available information - discussion and decision on methods, tools, techniques, logistics, etc. to be used.
2. Field visit - repeat visits for re-check
3. Completing PRA - Team discussion and analysis, consensus, formalise and record the results, recommendations, update the information.
Entire sequence should ensure timeliness but should not be done hastily. PRA techniques may not be cross-culturally transferable, they need to be adapted to local situations.
References
- Rapid Rural Appraisal - Proceedings of the 1985 - International Conference on RRA, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
- Rural Development - Putting the last first - Robert Chambers
- PRA - Methodology & Applications - Neela Mukherjee
- Putting People First - Sociological Variables in Rural Development - Ed.
by Michael M Cernea.
- Studies in Village India - Issues in Rural Development - BN Yugandhar & Neela Mukherjee.
Prepared by Shri DD Garg, Faculty Member
Revised and updated by Shri E.V. Murray, Member of Faculty, CAB |