Forum 4 Participatory Techniques

Module 5: Primary Data Collection – Participatory techniques
Forum 4: Participatory Techniques
1. What is the importance of using participatory data collection in research and

planning?
The importance of participatory data collection in research and planning is when your
study requires the participation of the affected participants of your study, which will
help you understand social issues more effectively. With the use of this approach,
researchers and planners can collect qualitative information that focuses on
interpreting the importance of social problem using the opinions of the participants
rather than quantitative methods which are more often focused on numbers and
statistics. This qualitative information gathered will ensure the researchers and
planners in making decision accurately and finding a relevant solution to the study
problem to be comprehensive because they’re allowing the concerned public to present
their opinions.
2. What should be the basis for selecting from the menu of possible participatory
tools and techniques?
The tools provide insight to individual or group decision-making, and identify the
criteria that people use to select certain items or activities. In cases, the researcher
should choose the tools and techniques that are most appropriate depending on the
research or planning process. Methods are categorized according to this suitability for
use at different stages of a project process (VSO 2004).
According to Slocum (2003, in choosing possible participatory tools and techniques,

you need to consider five elements. Objective, Topic, Participants, Time and
Budget.
 Objective: It should clearly define the reasons for involvement of the

participants and the expected outcomes.
 Topic: It is the subject matter and scale of the issue that determines the level of
public awareness and opinion of how complicated and relevant the issue is.
 Participants: These are the affected and interested parties that may help you
to find solutions depending on the type and depth of their understanding of the
problem being studied.
 Time: It is the amount of time you will need to spend to complete the method
of your study, including time spent in researching and planning ahead and
making post-event-follow-up.
 Budget: It refers to the availability of resources as to how much cost you will
allocate for the method to be used in conducting your study.
3. How can you ensure the reliability of information gathered through

participatory methods?
One important aspect of using participatory techniques is confirming and

validating responses. As the information gathered is anecdotal and sample sizes
are determined by factors other than statistical viability, confirmation and
validation cannot be achieved through statistical analysis. Triangulation is used to
confirm information gathered through participatory methods. Triangulation is done
by approaching the same topic from different points of view, using different
questions, or asking different people the same questions. If responses are
consistent, it is assumed that the information given is reasonably valid. Frequently,
triangulation is thought of as a data gathering strategy, but it is also an important
principle for data analysis. There are four forms of triangulation according to Pria
International Academy (2013)
 The first is data triangulation. This uses multiple sources of data to show or
support the same fact or interpretation. For example: a woman may report
that she participated in all group meetings. It would be wise to triangulate
on that for example, by looking at, the minutes of the meetings in question,
or asking other members.
 The second is researcher triangulation. This is a form of cross-checking
between multiple researchers to see if their interpretations and conclusions
agree.
 The third is theory triangulation. Here other theories that might account for
the findings are looked for.
 The fourth is methodological triangulation; here findings from different
research methods are compared to see how they mesh with one another.
This can be as simple as, for example, asking different focus groups the
same questions or comparing the outputs of a map and transect of the
same area. The participatory process of analysis by and large entails
methodological triangulation.
References:
Voluntary Services Overseas (2004). Participatory Approaches: A facilitator’s guide.

Retrieved from https://www.weadapt.org/sites/weadapt.org/files/legacy-new/knowledge-base/files/
1231/5245643d7e2f1tools.pdf
Slocum, N. (2003). Participatory Methods Toolkit – A Practitioner’s Manual.

Retrieved from https://archive.unu.edu/hq/library/Collection/PDF_files/CRIS/PMT.pdf
Pria International Academy (2013). International Perspectives in Participatory Research.

Retrieved from https://pria-academy.org/pdf/ippr/unit5/IPPR_Unit-5_Course%20Content_PM%20of
%20Analysing%20Disseminating%20and%20Utilizing%20Knowledge.pdf

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Module 5: Primary Data Collection – Participatory techniques

Forum 4: Participatory Techniques

1. What is the importance of using participatory data collection in research and

According to Slocum (2003, in choosing possible participatory tools and techniques,

 Objective: It should clearly define the reasons for involvement of the

3. How can you ensure the reliability of information gathered through

One important aspect of using participatory techniques is confirming and

Voluntary Services Overseas (2004). Participatory Approaches: A facilitator’s guide.

Slocum, N. (2003). Participatory Methods Toolkit – A Practitioner’s Manual.

Pria International Academy (2013). International Perspectives in Participatory Research.

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