Participatory Techniques Research Articles

EXPERIENCIA: Empoderamiento ciudadano basado en conocimiento: la experiencia en San Roque, Molina de Segura

After including in the first participatory budgets of Molina de Segura the realization of a technical and participated diagnosis for the urban renewal of San Roque neighborhood and the transmission to the residents of participatory techniques and tools for urban construction, the resulting report and the proposed solutions disappeared from the municipal agenda. The neighborhood frustration due to the lack of dissemination of the results and the non-visualization of urban solutions led to a protest process that demanded real and influential citizen participation in urban policies. This process resulted in a strategy aimed at strengthening the urban knowledge of the neighbors, causing an empowerment in their ability to manage demands.

Bawean Island Community Survival Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemics

This study aims to examine the strategies and actions of the people of Bawean Island in meeting food needs during the COVID-19 pandemic by using Max Weber’s theory of action. Extracting information was carried out using participatory observation techniques and in-depth interviews and was supported by documentation and analysis using inductive use. The results showed that there were two strategies and actions, namely: saving on food needs and limiting household expenses. Saving on food needs is done by changing the consumption pattern of side dishes. People are looking for replacement side dishes, for example; People who are accustomed to consuming fresh sea fish for a week in a row, have started to replace them with tofu, tempeh and rencek fish. The savings were made because during the pandemic, the traffic flow from Bawean Island to Java (Gresik) was not smooth, causing foodstuffs to increase in price and scarcity. Restrictions on household expenditure are carried out by reducing household spending and only focusing on spending on food, health, electricity and fuel oil needs. These two strategies can save household food and shopping needs, before the pandemic it was usually IDR 150,000 to IDR 70,000-80,000 per day. Furthermore, the actions taken by the people of Bawean Island, namely continuing to work at the main job and working side jobs to increase income. People who choose to keep working in the main job feel that they cannot do anything other than survive in this job, this is done by many furniture traders and entrepreneurs who in the end, because there are no customers, are forced to use their savings for their daily needs. People who choose to work side-by-side are more based because they do not have savings funds and have to increase their income, the people who work a lot on the side in this research are the fishermen.

PHOTOVOICE AS A TOOL FOR INCREASING AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Photovoice is a participatory technique used in sociology for presenting research results in form of visual stories. It can be a valuable tool to increase awareness and participation of citizens in local-based processes related to environmental education. This paper highlights some advantages of using photovoice as a visual participatory technique in improving environmental education, exploring some evidences from recent literature and presenting a case study conducted in Brasov, Romania. The case study is an example of how photovoice can be successfully used in working with social science students, in order to improve their professional skills for promoting local-based environmental education initiatives.

SAYURAN ORGANIK LAHAN KERING UNTUK PARIWISATA DI DOMPU

This science and technology application was carried out to educate partner farmers (1) “Mada Kabuntu Farmer Group" and (2) "Sinar Rinjani Farmer Group" to increase the production of organic vegetables in dry land. To achieved this goal, training activities and plot demonstration have been carried out. The training method used was the adult education method with participatory techniques. The training participants were members of the farmers group "Mada Kabuntu" and "Sinar Rinjani". Training activities include pre-test, delivery and explanation of modules (with LCD and props), discussion and question and answer. Plot demonstrations and organic vegetable cultivation practices were carried out on farmers' land. Farmers were participatively involved jointly from planning, implementing and evaluating of harvest yield. The activity results showed that the farmers participating in this program were very responsive to the development of organic vegetables on dry land. The participating farmers were actively working together to carried out all phases of activities from training, demonstration plots from planting, plant maintenance and harvesting. The results of these activities indicated that there has been a technology transfer process for developing organic vegetables in the dry land Dompu district.

Negotiating change for gender equality: identifying leverages, overcoming barriers

Introduction. Institutional change through gender equality plans is today the dominant approach to promoting gender equality in higher education and research. Building on our experiences as “technical support partners” in several EU-funded projects, we reflect on how change is negotiated in a variety of contexts. Objectives. Theoretically, using Feminist Institutionalism and the Science and Technology Studies concept of the trading zone, our objective is to analyse institutional negotiations among various, differently positioned actors with diverse backgrounds, value systems and negotiating power. From a practice-oriented perspective, our aim is to demonstrate typical challenges, suggest pathways towards solutions, and identify specific negotiation skills which underscore the capacity-building needs of change agents. Methodology. For our analysis, we have selected eight information-rich case studies through purposive theory-based sampling, illustrating the different transactions in the trading zones, based on our prior knowledge of the circumstances. The methods we draw on are primarily participant observation and textual analysis of project documents. Results. The selected theoretical combination allows us to identify leverages, ways to overcome barriers and the required skills and competences. Specifically, we underscore the use of participatory and co-creation techniques, strategic framing, spotting and using windows of opportunity, and wide mobilisation of stakeholders. We highlight key features of the change process, including its processual and incremental nature, the need for constant negotiation and the capacity-building needs of change agents. Contribution. With this analysis, we contribute, firstly, to the understanding of organisational change by identifying concrete barriers and opportunities as well as considering the ways in which a shared representation of gender equality is developed. The second, theoretical contribution lies in combining Feminist Institutionalism and the concept of the trading zone, which allows us to bring to productive dialogue issues of power, processuality and the need to address both material and discursive enactments of change processes.

Identifying Youths’ Spheres of Influence through Participatory Design

When designing learning environments and curricula for diverse populations, it is beneficial to connect with learners’ cultural knowledge, and the related interests, they bring to the learning context. To aid in the design and development of a computing curriculum and identify these areas of personal and cultural connection, we conducted a series of participatory design sessions. The goal of these sessions was to collect ideas around ways to make the instructional materials reflect the interests and voices of the learners. In this paper, we examine how the use of participatory design techniques can advance our understanding of the domains influencing today’s youth. Specifically, we examine the ideas generated by youth during these sessions as a means to understand what influences them and their ideas of cultural relevancy. In this work, we identify the resources children draw on across design activities and organize them to extend the <em>Spheres of Influence</em> framework (L. Archer et al., 2014). We identify seven spheres to attend to when designing for learning: Home and Family, School and Work, Hobbies and Leisure, Media, Interests, Peers, and Identity.

Food Decisions of Low-Income Families in the Era of COVID-19: A Qualitative Exploration

ObjectivesThe first lockdown enforced in the United Kingdom to limit the spread of COVID-19 had serious financial consequences for some lower-income households, which were already at risk of suboptimal food choices. Particularly in Northern Ireland, where 10% of the population live in food insecure households, the pandemic has potentially further exacerbated the nutritional challenges experienced by low-income families. This paper aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on food-related decisions as experienced by economically disadvantaged families in Northern Ireland, UK.MethodsA qualitative study collected data through online individual interviews. Participation was open to parents of children 2–17 years old who self-identified as living on a tight budget in urban and rural areas of Northern Ireland. A sampling matrix enabled equal representation of single- and two-parent households, as well as younger(<12 y) and older children (>12 y). Photovoice and participatory mapping techniques were employed to capture participant data. A thematic approach was utilised for data analysis.ResultsA total of 12 interviews were conducted. Five distinct themes were found, reflecting families’ food-related decisions that were affected by the COVID-19 lockdown: 1) food planning; 2) food purchasing; 3) meal preparation; 4) eating and feeding behaviours and 5) eating food prepared outside the house. Changes included an increase in home food preparation, but also in unhealthy snacking. Fear of being exposed to carriers of the virus led to infrequent food shopping and greater reliance on supermarket home deliveries. Long waiting times in-between food shops encouraged food planning but were also a barrier to providing daily fresh foods including fruit and vegetables to their families. Financial constraints were exacerbated during lockdown and led to a search for new ways to budget when food shopping. Food donations from the community and the government were important to maintain food security, particularly in single-parent families.ConclusionsThis study highlights that the COVID-19 lockdown influenced a broad range of dietary decisions of economically disadvantaged families and offers an insight into the nutritional challenges they experienced.Funding SourcesThe work was completed with financial support from internal funds of Queens University Belfast.

Las Palmas Beach Zoning Process of Esmeraldas Cantón, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador, Corresponding to the Period 2017-2019

Through the Integrated Coastal Management tool, the Municipality of Esmeraldas, with technical support from both the Ministry of the Environment and Water - MAAE, and the Coastal Marine Project - International Conservation, MINTUR and FLOPEC, implemented the Las Palmas beach zoning process, of the Canton and Province of Esmeraldas. This beach is located in the urban perimeter of the city and in the area adjacent to the Manglares Estuario Río Esmeraldas Wildlife Refuge, an area highly intervened because it is the main distraction site for the population, in order to implement the process that allows the organization of recreational and conservation activities that ensure the arrival and nesting of sea turtles, migratory species that are in a vulnerable state according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the strengthening tourism development. For this purpose, criteria such as the area of greatest nesting, presence of anthropic threats, conflicts of use, lack of regulations, identification of key actors, characteristics of the beach, carrying capacity, and permitted and prohibited activities were specified. The analysis of each one of them for the determination of the zoning was generated through the gathering of technical information in the field, analysis of existing information, implementation of participatory techniques (meetings, workshops, inter-institutional evaluations and participatory processes with key actors), in addition to the photographic record through a drone, on the uses that are generated in each of them. It is concluded that the zoning of the beach is a management strategy, for the ordering of the activities carried out there, aimed at the conservation of migratory species and tourism development, through the participation of key actors and the definition of technical, socioeconomic and governance criteria.

Management of Equality Education Program in Daarut Tauhiid Community Learning Center (CLC)

Education services for certain groups who have learning needs for 12 years of compulsory education other than through formal education can be served through non-formal and informal channels, which are called equality education. This study aims to describe the equality education management program at the Daarut Tauhiid Community Learning Center (CLC) as seen from the management function, namely planning, implementation and evaluation. The research was conducted through a qualitative approach with a participatory exploratory method, using participatory observation techniques, in-depth interviews, and FGDs. The results showed that the equality education program at Daarut Tauhiid CLC consisted of planning that included the needs of the students, determining goals, recruiting teachers and students, preparing learning tools and providing facilities and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the implementation of the program is carried out with a learning pattern in the form of face-to-face, tutorial and independent learning based on the 2013 curriculum. For evaluation, PKBM DT conducts program evaluations internally and externally and evaluates the students.

Wild Food Harvest, Food Security, and Biodiversity Conservation in Jamaica: A Case Study of the Millbank Farming Region

Harvesting wild food is an important coping strategy to deal with food insecurity in farming households across the Caribbean. The practice is tightly connected to the region's unique agrarian history, food heritage, traditional cuisine, and local knowledge of wild or semidomesticated plants. In Jamaica, small-scale farmers are the chief stewards of agrobiodiversity, and their food security and well-being are often dependent on wild food harvest. Yet, there is a paucity of empirical research on the relationship between wild food use, food security, and biodiversity conservation. In this paper, we use the knowledge and lived experience of rural farmers in a remote community (Millbank) at the edge of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park (BJMNP) to explore the relationship between wild food harvest and food insecurity within the context of protected area management. Specifically, we seek to (1) characterize different patterns of wild food harvest; (2) examine the relationship between food insecurity and wild food harvest, and (3) explore the implications of forest conservation measures for wild food harvest. Detailed interviews were conducted with 43 farmers to capture data on food insecurity, wild food collection, livelihood satisfaction, household characteristics, farming activities, livelihood strategies, and forest resource interaction. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) was used to characterize food insecurity, while participatory techniques were used to develop indicators to assess the well-being of farmers. The results show strong evidence of a relationship between wild food harvest and food insecurity (p&amp;lt; 0.001). Overall, the findings support the importance of wild foods to the well-being of rural households and provide empirical evidence for its inclusion in food security, poverty, and biodiversity conservation policies.

Pre-service English Teachers’ Strategies in Incorporating Character Education during the Teaching Practice Program at UIN Antasari Banjarmasin

This research explores the strategies performed by pre-service English teachers in incorporating traits or character in writing their lesson plans during their teaching practicum. Twelve students of the English Department at Universitas Islam Negeri Antasari Banjarmasin were recruited to join the study. This course explored the experience of undertaking an authentic teaching and learning activity of these pre-service English teachers, starting from creating a syllabus, writing lesson plans to execute a micro-teaching action. A classroom-based study is conducted to generate data. Primary data was obtained in the micro-teaching class through a participatory observation technique, in-depth interviews, and analysis of the lesson plan documents. The data were analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that they mainly used instructional methods for group discussion and small group presentation. Honesty, trustworthiness, respect, and responsibility are the traits that are expressed in their lesson plans. Next, this study’s outcome is expected to increase teacher understanding of various possibilities in developing the lesson plans and instructional materials that facilitate the character-building incorporation.

Guidelines for braindraw conduction: looking at braindraw under the lens of abduction and semiotics

ABSTRACT Braindraw is a participatory technique in which participants collaboratively design the interface for a proposed solution. Conducting braindraw in different design situations is still a factor of difficulty for its use by human-computer interaction professionals in the software industry, as there is no set of basic guidelines to be followed. In this sense, this article presents a narrative literature review, a set of exploratory case studies to identify initial elements for braindraw conduction, and a case study to evaluate and improve the initial set of elements for braindraw conduction. We analyse the collected data using the thematic analysis method. This resulted in a set of guidelines for braindraw conduction.

'If relevant, yes; if not, no': General practitioner (GP) users and GP perceptions about asking ethnicity questions in Irish general practice: A qualitative analysis using Normalization Process Theory.

The use of ethnic identifiers in health systems is recommended in several European countries as a means to identify and address heath inequities. There are barriers to implementation that have not been researched. This study examines whether and how ethnicity data can be collected in Irish general practices in a meaningful and acceptable way. Qualitative case study data generation was informed by Normalization Process Theory (NPT) constructs about 'sense' making and 'engagement'. It consisted of individual interviews and focus group discussions based on visual participatory techniques. There were 70 informants, including 62 general practitioner (GP) users of diverse ethnic backgrounds recruited through community organisations and eight GPs identified through an inter-agency steering group. Data were analysed according to principles of thematic analysis using NPT. The link between ethnicity and health was often considered relevant because GP users grasped connections with genetic (skin colour, lactose intolerance), geographic (prevalence of disease, early years exposure), behavioural (culture/food) and social determinant (housing) factors. The link was less clear with religion. There was some scepticism and questions about how the collection of data would benefit GP consultations and concerns regarding confidentiality and the actual uses of these data (e.g. risk of discrimination, social control). For GPs, the main theme discussed was relevance: what added value would it bring to their consultations and was it was their role to collect these data? Their biggest concern was about data protection issues in light of the European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The difficulty in explaining a complex concept such as 'ethnicity' in the limited time available in consultations was also worrying. Implementation of an ethnicity identifier in Irish general practices will require a strong rationale that makes sense to GP users, and specific measures to ensure that its benefits outweigh any potential harm. This is in line with both our participants' views and the EU GDPR.

Formation of Field-Based Pedagogical Resources: The Role of Leadership of Regional Heads in Educational Sports and Sports Achievement

This study is inspired by the limited educational resources in sports education, especially those that discuss the role of leadership in improving the quality of education and training of athletes in achieving the quality of human resources in the form of improving performance in sport. Through this research, it is hoped that a pedagogical resource can be used as a model, that improving the achievements of the young generation in the field of sport is not enough with the education and training of athletes, but strong leadership is needed by the Regional Head of Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, and the Indonesian National Sports Committee of Kediri City is the parent of the research. This method of research is qualitative. Data was collected using in-depth interviewing and participatory observation techniques. The results showed that the role of leadership in the education and training of athletes plays a very important role in improving the performance of sport in the area. Its form may be in the form of a leader's decision on the allocation of funds, monitoring, motivation and maximum moral support.

Analisis Aspek Pemasaran UMKM di Masa Resesi Global Dampak Dari Pandemi Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic that occurred globally has an impact on various sectors in Indonesia including the MSMEs sector. Based on these conditions, a marketing strategy is needed for MSMEs in Indonesia to be sustainable. The research aims to analyze and describe marketing strategies for MSMEs to survive in the Covid-19 pandemic condition. This research uses exploratory qualitative analysis with participatory observation techniques. This research uses primary data from observations and secondary data from previous studies. The results recommend MSMEs to sell their products via e-commerce and promote via digital marketing as a marketing strategy. Moreover, MSMEs need to optimizing customer marketing relationships in order to create a loyal customer. Loyal customers have the potential to make repeat purchases and recommend products to other potential consumers. By implementing this strategy, it is hoped that the MSME business will continue to survive and have a positive impact on society and the economy.

Collective reflections on the first cycle of a collaborative learning platform to strengthen rural primary healthcare in Mpumalanga, South Africa

BackgroundFrontline managers and health service providers are constrained in many contexts from responding to community priorities due to organizational cultures focused on centrally defined outputs and targets. This paper presents an evaluation of the Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR) programme—a collaborative learning platform embedded in the local health system in Mpumalanga, South Africa—for strengthening of rural primary healthcare (PHC) systems. The programme aims to address exclusion from access to health services by generating and acting on research evidence of practical, local relevance.MethodsDrawing on existing links in the provincial and national health systems and applying rapid, participatory evaluation techniques, we evaluated the first action-learning cycle of the VAPAR programme (2017–19). We collected data in three phases: (1) 10 individual interviews with programme stakeholders, including from government departments and parastatals, nongovernmental organizations and local communities; (2) an evaluative/exploratory workshop with provincial and district Department of Health managers; and (3) feedback and discussion of findings during an interactive workshop with national child health experts.ResultsIndividual programme stakeholders described early outcomes relating to effective research and stakeholder engagement, and organization and delivery of services, with potential further contributions to the establishment of an evidence base for local policy and planning, and improved health outcomes. These outcomes were verified with provincial managers. Provincial and national stakeholders identified the potential for VAPAR to support engagement between communities and health authorities for collective planning and implementation of services. Provincial stakeholders proposed that this could be achieved through a two-way integration, with VAPAR stakeholders participating in routine health planning and review activities and frontline health officials being involved in the VAPAR process. Findings were collated into a revised theory of change.ConclusionsThe VAPAR learning platform was regarded as a feasible, acceptable and relevant approach to facilitate cooperative learning and community participation in health systems. The evaluation provides support for a collaborative learning platform within routine health system processes and contributes to the limited evaluative evidence base on embedded health systems research.

Opening up participatory spaces: a way of rethinking school practices linked to territory

ABSTRACT Background For education to be underpinned deeply by the principles of inclusion and interculturality, there is a need for school to be reconceptualised as an institution which is strongly linked to its territory and capable of being an agent of social change. As part of a wider project exploring processes of democratic participation for social transformation, this article reports on a research study that supported schools to review and reformulate their educational practices through a school-based Participatory Action Research (PAR) project. Purpose The study sought to support participating schools to examine, review and transform practices by using participatory social diagnosis (PSD) strategies. In particular, it aimed to explore the ways in which PSD practices enabled the review of practices linked to territory, encouraging a process of transformative participation towards inclusion. Method Through participatory projects across four infant (3- to 6-year-old pupils) and primary (6- to 12-year-old pupils) schools in different locations in Spain, case studies were developed to examine participation and community building in the context of each case. Data, including recordings of focus group sessions, were transcribed and analysed qualitatively, using content analysis techniques. Findings Across the four case studies, analysis suggested that, in a variety of ways, spaces and times were created for shared reflection, and participatory techniques generated creative forms available to the entire community to contribute to the analysis and transformation of practices. The findings indicated that PAR techniques had enabled a means of participation that led to a process of circulation and collective production of knowledge, allowing a rethinking of inclusion and territory. Conclusions : Our small scale, in-depth study highlights the implications of opening up participatory spaces with regard to the concept of community, social change and territory. This research may provide insights for future researchers and school communities with similar goals of changing educational practices to address participation from an inclusive and intercultural approach.

Intervention strategies for urban blight: A participatory approach

Urban blight has been the subject of numerous worldwide studies. However, because of blight’s complexity, direct relationship with ​​urban planning and multifaceted associated variables, studies targeting certain aspects of blight require detailed conceptualization and structure to facilitate decision-making processes that address blight. Many urban, socio-economic and cultural externalities associated with blight need to be addressed in developing viable intervention strategies for prevention, attenuation and eradication. Identifying and simplifying the complex issues associated with blight is important as their intricacy creates difficulties for decision makers. We simplify the blight problem by using unique techniques for structuring complex decision problems (i.e., problem structuring methods (PSMs)). This methodology is based on multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) principles, as well as a combination of participatory techniques (i.e., decision conferencing and cognitive mapping). In a subsequent phase, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique is used to enable the development of a more realistic, transparent analysis model for blight intervention strategies. This study assumes a constructivist logic, so both objective and subjective elements are included. The proposed methodology’s advantages and limitations are also discussed.

“Success is in your hand”: Digital literacy to support students’ autonomous learning in speaking class

The expected objectives of the results of this study are to obtain a concrete picture of students 'digital literacy mastery in the Transactional Conversation course and to find out the effect of students' digital literacy mastery on the quality of autonomous learning in the Transactional Conversation course. In particular, this study will examine theories on digital literacy and autonomous learning in the Transactional Conversation course. The approach to be applied in this research is interdisciplinary using qualitative methods. The research design used is a case study. The technique of collecting data uses participatory observation techniques, interviews, and document studies. The data validity technique used triangulation, which mainly consisted of source data triangulation, methodological triangulation, and theory triangulation. The results show that there is a relationship between digital literacy mastery and the quality of autonomous learning. The role of the lecturer as a facilitator invites students to have the courage to evaluate the quality of their own learning.

The Edge as The Choice (A Case Study of Jamu Sellers in Three Traditional Markets, Yogyakarta City)

The utilization of plants in the health sector has actually been as long as human civilization. This can be seen in jamu as a health care option, which is still in great demand at this time. Over the years, jamu is often identified as a nutritious drink for the lower middle class, but this does not apply to jamu in traditional markets, in Yogyakarta City. The community with various backgrounds also consume jamu. This study aims to find out the reasons behind the choice of Javanese jamu as a health care option in the midst of the modernization of the medical world in Yogyakarta City. This study was conducted in three traditional markets in Yogyakarta City, namely Kranggan Market, Demangan Market, and Prawirotaman Market. This research is a qualitative research with data collection using participatory observation techniques, semi-structured interviews, and literature review. The findings of this research are that jamu, which is considered edge by some, is actually an option for certain parties. Jamu as the center and the edge really depends on the point of view used to see it. The choice of jamu is basically a consumer's self-belief and readiness to change behavior in determining health care choices.