Brown, L. David2024-11-132024-11-131984-08Brown, L. D. (1984). People-Centered Development and Participatory Research. Harvard Educational Review, special issue on international education.http://192.9.200.215:4000/handle/123456789/182The paper outlines the theories and strategies behind people-centered development, contrasts it with traditional production-centered approaches, and highlights the role of participatory research in achieving sustainable development. It includes an example of participatory research conducted in rural India, showing how it fosters local initiatives and empowers communities. It further explores the educational implications of participatory research, advocating for a shift in educational processes to align with people-centered development principles.This paper discusses the shift from production-centered development to people-centered development strategies, emphasizing human development, equitable resource distribution, and ecological sustainability. It explores the concept of participatory research as a methodology for engaging local communities in the development process, offering a case study of rural Indian villages. The paper also compares participatory research to positivist research and formal education, arguing that participatory research promotes empowerment, self-regulation, and collective action.enParticipatory ResearchPeople-Centered DevelopmentEducationSocial SystemsEmpowermentHuman DevelopmentEcological SustainabilityRural DevelopmentWorking Paper