Research is a vital component of the Youth for Governance Fellowship (Y4G) program. In order to empower young individuals to tackle urban issues of their city, Y4G fellows are mandated to engage in a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study focusing on topics of Social Accountability and Participatory Governance. However, before embarking on the journey of formulating and implementing their research study projects, it was essential for them to understand the concepts of research, as well as the intricacies of CBPR methodology.
To acquaint the fellows with the concept of research, its types, and methodologies, with a specific focus on action research, Dr. Basavaraju R. Shreshtha, Executive Director of GRAAM, conducted an insightful session on "Understanding Research." The session on research started by Dr. Basavaraju provided the fellows a comprehensive overview of research- what research is, why is it conducted, its objective, types and characteristics. Research is a systematic process by which one acquires authentic and reliable information about a phenomenon, shared, Dr. Basavaraju. He first highlighted various types of research such as Qualitative and Quantitative research, which differs in their methodologies and data analysis techniques, and then delved into the intricacies of action research. Action research is a method that aims to both investigate and resolve an issue simultaneously. It involves interactive research and action-taking in parallel.
Subsequently, after the fellows had acquired a theoretical understanding of research, they were tasked with devising ideas and plans for their own action research. Dr. Rajesh Tandon, Founder-President of Participatory Research in Asia, joined the session to provide insights and feedback on the research topics and plans proposed by the fellows. The fellows presented innovative ideas ranging from waste and water management to health and heritage conservation. Dr. Tandon, stressed the significance of selecting a concrete situation and location, such as a specific neighbourhood issue, as the starting point for their research studies. He provided guidance on effective approaches to participatory research, encouraging fellows to delve into problems they were curious about, comprehensively analysing the associated issues, including the roles of municipalities and elected officials. Understanding the local context and involving multiple stakeholders were deemed crucial for addressing identified issues effectively, he stated. Fellows were advised to identify the root cause of problems before devising solutions and consider problems from diverse stakeholders' perspectives.
Following discussions and feedback on the fellows' research ideas, Dr. Tandon provided a brief overview of Participatory Research. Participatory Research involves direct collaboration with those being studied for the purpose of action or change. He stressed that the activity they were involved in was nothing but a part of Participatory Research.
Moving forward in the next session, fellows were introduced to CBPR tools by Ms. Nandita Das, Director of the Martha Farrell Foundation.
The session provided the fellows an overview of what CCBPR is - an alternative approach to research that involves researching “with” rather than “on” or “for” people who are impacted by the issue under study. The actionable knowledge that is co-produced through this participatory process is used for bringing about social change. Through case studies various methods of conducting CBPR like Social mapping, Storytelling, Art based methods encompassing theatre, dance, photovoice method were shared with the fellows.
Certain principles and competencies of a participatory researchers were also discussed. Fellows were informed that a community-based participatory researcher must be reflective and sensitive to their role as a facilitator in the research process. They must be attentive listeners and invest in building relationships of trust and partnership with the community. These are the characteristics they must carry with them to the field.
All three sessions enabled the fellows to understand the fundamentals of research, specifically participatory research. The fellows were provided with knowledge of the tools for conducting CBPR, thereby equipping them to embark on their journeys of conducting impactful research studies on social accountability and participatory governance. By embracing a curiosity-driven, inclusive, and community-centered approach, these young leaders are well-prepared to make meaningful contributions to addressing local challenges and fostering positive change.