Knowledge Democracy / Participatory Research

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Welcome to the Knowledge Democracy / Participatory Research Community. This community serves as a comprehensive repository of resources on participatory approaches, community-based research, and collaborative inquiry methods. Our mission is to foster knowledge sharing and support initiatives that empower communities to contribute to research, ensuring their voices shape the knowledge that impacts their lives.

Explore a wealth of materials, including case studies, policy papers, training guides, and research publications that highlight the practice and principles of participatory research worldwide.

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Author: search.filters.author.Tandon, RajeshSubject: search.filters.subject.Asia

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    Participatory research network
    (1987-03) Tandon, Rajesh
    As dissatisfaction with mainstream social science grew in the 1970s and 1980s, participatory research began to take shape as an alternative way of producing knowledge that was more closely tied to people’s struggles. This paper provides an appraisal of the first decade of participatory research and the networks that emerged around it. The study traces the evolution of the movement through three distinct phases: inception, consolidation, and diffusion. The initial years were shaped by a strong critique of conventional social science and the search for an alternative paradigm rooted in adult education and people’s struggles. The consolidation period witnessed the growth of regional networks, the establishment of participatory research as a recognized program within the International Council for Adult Education, and the development of organisations like PRIA in Asia. The phase of diffusion, then marked a shift toward deeper connections with social movements, as participatory research became more explicitly linked to issues such as land, deforestation, workers’ rights, and women’s empowerment. The paper emphasizes that the future of participatory research lies not only in refining methodology but also in expanding its influence within academia and linking more strongly with people’s concerns. By situating knowledge creation in the context of social struggles, the research underscores participatory research as both a methodology and a worldview that continues to inspire collective action and empowerment.

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