Community Development Journal · 2004 · 25 citations · 1 references
Participatory ParadigmPublic ParticipationParticipatory DevelopmentSocial SciencesCommunity Development WorkCommunity BuildingParticipatory ResearchCommunity Development ResearchCivic EngagementPublic InvolvementAction ResearchCommunity EngagementResearch-practice PartnershipCommunity ParticipationParticipatory DesignCommunity DevelopmentDominant Research ParadigmCommunity OrganizingCommunity-based ResearchSociologyCommunity Practice EducationSocial InnovationCommunity StudiesCultural-historical Activity Theory
Academic researchers in developing countries are increasingly called upon to gear their research efforts towards solving contemporary social problems. The dominant research paradigm in their academic institutions is however not conducive to such endeavours. This paper proposes a participatory paradigm, based on the principles of activity theory, as a basis for community development work. The paper elaborates on the process needed to develop a participatory research project and presents two examples to illustrate the characteristics of such an approach.
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