The Use of Participatory Rural Appraisal Approach and Focus Group Discussion in Exploring Indigenous Knowledge for Development Research

Abstract

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD )are qualitative research techniques and important ways of understanding local perspectives (indigenous Knowledge) on different issues. The techniques involved the communities in the process of identifying problems and in devising ways for minimizing or solving the identified constraints on development. The techniques facilitate the use of IK of the community by relying on norms, values and belief system of communities to select data and other information relevant in guiding development process. It is argued that development solutions from outside are not always based on correct assumption and are sometimes economically unfeasible or culturally acceptable, conventional approaches to development have not achieve the desired result due to exclusion communities from the process of development initiative. It is suggested that PRA and FGD specifically and qualitative research generally, can be used to complement quantitative research or other methods in generating useful data and other relevant information for development initiatives