Browsing by Author "Ellis, Pat"

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Participatory research - An integral part of the development process
(Women and Development Unit (WAND) Extra Mural Department, UWI, 1983) Ellis, Pat
Ellis develops the concept of participating research as an alternative concept to the dominant approaches to social research. Ellis is critical of the tendency of research to be an end in itself as opposed to being a means to an end, and proposes a new paradigm in which research is integrated into development and change processes. He also highlights the problem with the dominant approach, which is overly concerned with imposing control, objectivity, quantification, and academic discourses, while remaining detached to the issues affecting the subject of investigation. Particripatory research recognizes the subjectivity of research and seeks to involve the researched group actively in the research process to obtain information and knowledge that can then lead to transformative action and change. The paper makes a distinction between the researcher as a facilitator and expert, and highlights how the former can be more effective in sharing expertise and knowledge with the researched community. The article further highlights the political nature of participating research, as a means to achieve equity and democratization of knowledge and influence. Ellis provides examples from Trinidad, St. Vincent, and Saint Lucia, which illustrate the potential of participating research in community development, women’s development, and education respectively. The paper concludes that participating research has the potential to contribute to community empowerment and self-reliance, which are critical aspects of development in the region.