RAPID ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES VS.
PARTICIPATORY INQUIRY (PRA, RAP, RRA…)
In recent years participatory inquiry have been increasingly used to support M&E. A vast range of
approaches have been developed, each with its own emphasis. Some approaches are about employing
participatory methods simply to quickly gather information (e.g. RRA – Rapid Rural Appraisal). Other aims at
empowering people throughout the process (e.g. PRA – Participatory Rural Appraisal).
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA):
Rapid assessment procedures (RAP)
focus on empowerment
focus on time
“Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) can be
described as a family of approaches, methods and
behaviours that enable people to express and
analyse the realities of their lives and conditions, to
plan themselves what action to take, and to
monitor and evaluate the results. Its methods have
evolved from Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA). The
difference is that PRA emphasises processes
which empower local people, whereas RRA is
mainly seen as a means for outsiders to gather
information”
Chambers, Blackburn (1996). The power of participation: PRA
and policy. IDS Policy Briefings, Institute of Development
Studies , University of Sussex, Brighton.
http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/bookshop/briefs/brief7.html
Rapid assessment procedures (RAP) — also called
rapid appraisal procedures — are a combination of
informal methodologies, such as semi-structured
and unstructured observations, key informant
interviews, focus groups and informal surveys,
combined with several techniques that help
researchers and community members communicate
about complex concepts and relations.
RAP is intended as an approach that gives
community members a more active role in helping
researchers understand a given issue in its broader
local context. They are particularly good for learning
about the vulnerabilities and capacities of the
population.
The key differences among PRA/RRA and RAP are:
Ti
time
me
PRA/RRA techniques are implemented in a relatively longer time.
Degree of participation
:
RAP techniques are not necessarily participatory.
scope
RAP is primarily a data collection approach or methodology,
as opposed to PRA which is more properly a planning process.
RAP goes beyond the original RRA focus on rural development and can be used in urban contexts as well.
Rapid assessment procedures vs. participatory Inquiry - Page 1/3
EXAMPLES OF PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES
Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA)
RRA emerged in the late 70s and represented a powerful shift in the research community. It showed that
scientific evidence could be gathered not only by survey / quantitative research, but also from a wider range
of quicker and more cost-effective qualitative techniques.
Participatory Rapid (or Rural) Appraisal (PRA)
PRA employs basically the same techniques as RRA, but includes much stronger community participation. It
can be defined as a semi-structured process of learning from, with and by rural people about rural conditions.
The emphasis is on people as "actors, presenters" and not merely as "respondents". Therefore PRA is
focused not only on the data-gathering aspects, but on the presentation and analysis of information to / with
the community (e.g. by way of participatory mapping, visual sharing techniques). It is usually considered an
initial step in a process of participatory planning and action.
Appreciative enquiry
“Appreciative inquiry turns the problem-solving approach on
its head. It focuses on a community's achievements rather
than its problems, and seeks to go beyond participation to
foster inspiration at the grass-roots level. It was developed in
the early 1990s by David Cooperrider at Case Western
Reserve University, primarily to help corporations sharpen
their competitive advantage….”
Appreciative inquiry is a strategy for purposeful change that
identifies the best of "what is" to pursue dreams and
possibilities of "what could be." It is a co-operative search for
the strengths, passions and life-giving forces that are found
within every system—those factors that hold the potential for
inspired, positive change.
The appreciative approach involves collaborative inquiry,
based on interviews and affirmative questioning, to collect and celebrate the good news stories of a
community—those stories that enhance cultural identity, spirit and vision. Appreciative inquiry is a way of
seeing that is selectively attentive to—and affirming of—the best and highest qualities in a system, a
situation or another human being. It involves an appreciation for the mystery of being and a reverence for
life.”
Source: IIED - Appreciative inquiry - From problems to strengths http://iisd1.iisd.ca/ai/default.htm
Community Dialogue
“A community dialogue is a forum that draws participants from as many parts of the community as possible
to exchange information face-to-face, share personal stories and experiences, honestly express
perspectives, clarify viewpoints, and develop solutions to community concerns and opportunities.
Unlike debate, dialogue emphasizes listening to deepen understanding. It develops common perspectives
and goals, and allows participants to express their own interests.
A dialogue is a community conversation that can take many forms. It can involve five people around a
kitchen table, five-hundred people in a large community hall, or anything in between.”
Source: Dialogue Toolkit - Supporting Local Solutions to Local Challenges. Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada
http://www.rural.gc.ca/dialogue/tool/index_e.phtml
Rapid assessment procedures vs. participatory Inquiry - Page 2/3
Other rapid / participative enquiry methods and approaches
The interactive involvement of many people in differing institutional contexts has promoted innovation, and
there are many variations in the way that systems of inquiry have been put together. These systems of
inquiry include, for example:
Agro-ecosystems Analysis (AEA); Beneficiary Assessment (BA); Community Action Planning (CAP);
Development Education Leadership Teams (DELTA); Diagnosis and Design (D&D); Diagnostico Rural
Rapido (DRR); Farmer Participatory Research; Farming Systems Research; Groupe de Recherche et
d’Appui pour l’Auto-Promotion Paysanne (GRAPP); Methode Acceleree de Recherche Participative (MARP);
Micro-Planning Workshops; Participatory Analysis and Learning Methods (PALM); Participatory Action
Research (PAR); Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PME); Participatory Operational Research
Projects (PORP); Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA); Participatory Poverty Monitoring (PPM);
Participatory Policy Research (PPR); Participatory Research Methodology (PRM); Participatory Rural
Appraisal (PRA); Participatory Rural Appraisal and Planning (PRAP); Participatory Social Assessment
(PSA); Participatory Technology Development (PTD); Participatory Urban Appraisal (PUA); Planning for Real
(PfR); Process Documentation; Rapid Appraisal; Rapid Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge Systems
(RAAKS); Rapid Assessment Procedures (RAP); Rapid Assessment Techniques (RAT); Rapid Catchment
Analysis (RCA); Rapid Ethnographic Assessment (REA); Rapid Food Security Analysis (RFSA); Rapid Multiperspective Appraisal (RMA); Rapid Organisational Assessment (ROA); Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA);
Samuhik Brahman (Joint Trek); Self-esteem, Associative Strength, Resourcefulness, Action Planning, and
Responsibility (SARAR); Soft Systems Methodology (SSM); Theatre for Development; Training for
Transformation (TFT); Village Appraisal (VA); Visualisation in Participatory Programmes (VIPP); and
Zielorientierte Projekt Planung (ZOPP)….
Source: http://www.caledonia.org.uk/pra.htm
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