RPER Software - A Social Management Tool for Rapid Participatory Emancipatory Research: Planning, Design and Implementation

Abstract

Theoretical framework: This study is grounded in Social Management, a paradigm that focuses on society's deliberative process for public decisions. It also employs the Rapid Participatory and Emancipatory Research (RPER) method, an adaptation of rapid and participatory appraisals, to apply social management in rural contexts. Research objectives: Identify the requirements, plan, design, assess the complexity, and implement a system to support the RPER application. Methodology: The waterfall model for software development lifecycle was used to carry out the system's planning. The discipline of Business Process Management (BPM) was necessary for the requirements mapping and the Function Point Analysis (FPA) technique to measure the software complexity from a user perspective. Results: The RPER application process was fully mapped, and several features that could be implemented for the software were uncovered. These functionalities address practically all the steps involved in the method’s application. In addition, the software measurement was completed, and 542 function points were found. After this, the design for the graphical user interface was then created. Finally, the software was developed using technologies such as Express for building the back-end RESTful API with Node.js, React library to create the front-end’s componentized user interface, TypeScript as the main programming language and PostgreSQL as the relational database. Originality: It is notable that some software has already been used to try and promote social participation in public matters. However, studies specific to the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to resolve social issues, and, at the same time, dealing specifically with participatory techniques are non-existent. There is an overflow of software tools designed to support quantitative research in the agriculture field, yet there remains a notable deficiency in software tailored to assist qualitative research and practices. Theoretical and practical contributions: The use of a web system on participatory approaches can bring advantages. In the theoretical side, this research might provide insights into these methods’ evolution. It will also provide a foundational framework for understanding the intersection of ICT and participatory techniques, paving the way for future research in this area. Some other more practical benefits include the wider distribution and dissemination of results, data transparency, the unification or centralization of the research made using the methods, the organization of data, the possibility of automation on report generation, better communication and collaboration between team members, and data safety with periodic backups. Nonetheless, the software could serve as a platform for preparing new researchers with help and tips section for each of the methods’ techniques.