Skip to main content

Reflexive Comments on the Process of Participatory Research

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 1169 Accesses

Abstract

Participatory research challenges conventional roles and premises of research by handing over the research process to community members themselves. After 2 years of conventional qualitative research, we integrated a participatory research approach into our research in order to understand villagers’ perspectives of the future in a post-disaster setting. Community groups in three Bantul villages were approached to conduct their own research, which included choosing a research focus, the research method, and the form of their final media product. During the process, we tried to manage the flexibility of this method while overcoming challenges within the community. In this chapter, I provide insights into the process while reflecting upon our implementation of participatory research in a post-disaster setting. This text discusses implementing various levels of participation during the process, difficulties due to villagers’ prior experiences, and fluctuating motivation to participate. The last section considers the various stakeholder benefits that emerged from this project.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    All university students in Indonesia are obligated to do community development participation (CDP) as part of their university curriculum. This program is called Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN).

References

  • Arnstein, S. R. (1969). A ladder of citizen participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35(4), 216–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunda, Z. (1999). Social cognition: Making sense of people. Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leach, G., & Wallwork, J. (2003). Enabling effective participation, negotiation, conflict resolution and advocacy in participatory research: Tools and approaches for extension professionals. Conference proceeding, Apen 2003 forum, Hobart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puoane, T., Sanders, D., Ashworth, A., Chopra, M., Strasser, S., & McCoy, D. (2004). Improving the hospital management of malnourished children by participatory research. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 16(1), 31–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trujillo, C. A. (2007). Building internal strength, sustainable self-esteem, and inner motivation as a researcher. Journal of Research Practice, 3(1), 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The editors would like to thank Elise Serbaroli for her assistance in editing this chapter.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tiara R. Widiastuti .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Widiastuti, T. (2014). Reflexive Comments on the Process of Participatory Research. In: Zaumseil, M., Schwarz, S., von Vacano, M., Sullivan, G., Prawitasari-Hadiyono, J. (eds) Cultural Psychology of Coping with Disasters. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9354-9_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics