Creating knowledge: Breaking the monopoly

Abstract

This article by Dr Budd Hall talks about the role of education and research in shaping the development sector from urban centered growth to improving the rural areas. It talks about how the forms of research in social sciences have developed with the need to be convenient to administrators and policy makers. It mentions survey approach being a common research method and explains its weaknesses. Participatory research is then presented as an alternative methodology that directly includes the beneficiaries of the research in collection and interpretation of the data. The article presents a case study from Tanzania where participatory method was used in response to the issue of food spoilage after a good harvest. It concludes by urging educators and researchers to constantly evaluate political implications of their work.