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Y. Rasyid
5.1 Values of Adopting the PAR Approach as a Research
Methodology for Sustainable Community Development
The PAR methodology adopted in this case study as a research approach to studying
sustainable community development provided evidence for a set of values in which
the PAR method can be further explored and applied in other potential areas of
research. The values are elaborated in the next section.
5.1.1 Inclusive Participation
One of the essential aspects of research on sustainable community development is the
inclusive participation of all the relevant stakeholders. As a researcher, the committed participation of the research participants reflected on the need of the researcher
to observe and overcome her professional dominance and demonstrate and show
commitment to democratic principles. This demonstrates that in any community
development efforts, sustainability of such development efforts should no longer be
a top-down process but should emphasize on a bottom-up inclusive participation of
those whose development was being attempted (Oakley 1991). By ensuring that the
process of participation is inclusive, democratic and aimed at addressing the collective improvement of a social situation within a community, the PAR methodology
as a research approach is valuable as it generates rich knowledge that combines
both professional and community perspectives. In the case of Pulau Mantanani, all
the NGO officers that were in charge of planning and delivering their interventions
to the local community participated in the research and provided a robust range of
data and knowledge important for understanding the dynamics of empowerment,
sustainability and community development.
5.1.2 Addressing Power Discourse and Community Empowerment
The fundamental concept to the PAR methodology is to achieve empowerment of
those involved. In the case of Pulau Mantanani, the local Bajau Ubian community is
headed by a village head which has been elected by the locals. The village head had
stayed in the same position for more than a decade and has resulted in some discomfort in some of the community members as many felt that the village head was only
allowing his family members to benefit from hand-outs from the tourists and government. This imbalance of power within the community has resulted in dissatisfaction
among some of the community members in terms of how the community can develop
sustainably and reduce the element of poverty in the island. The PAR method challenges the local island system of leadership and knowledge. When the community
research participants were given the opportunity to control the research agenda, and
to play an active role in the research, they established themselves as powerful agents
of change. Over the duration of the Alternative Livelihood Program, awareness on
Y. Rasyid
5.1 Values of Adopting the PAR Approach as a Research
Methodology for Sustainable Community Development
The PAR methodology adopted in this case study as a research approach to studying
sustainable community development provided evidence for a set of values in which
the PAR method can be further explored and applied in other potential areas of
research. The values are elaborated in the next section.
5.1.1 Inclusive Participation
One of the essential aspects of research on sustainable community development is the
inclusive participation of all the relevant stakeholders. As a researcher, the committed participation of the research participants reflected on the need of the researcher
to observe and overcome her professional dominance and demonstrate and show
commitment to democratic principles. This demonstrates that in any community
development efforts, sustainability of such development efforts should no longer be
a top-down process but should emphasize on a bottom-up inclusive participation of
those whose development was being attempted (Oakley 1991). By ensuring that the
process of participation is inclusive, democratic and aimed at addressing the collective improvement of a social situation within a community, the PAR methodology
as a research approach is valuable as it generates rich knowledge that combines
both professional and community perspectives. In the case of Pulau Mantanani, all
the NGO officers that were in charge of planning and delivering their interventions
to the local community participated in the research and provided a robust range of
data and knowledge important for understanding the dynamics of empowerment,
sustainability and community development.
5.1.2 Addressing Power Discourse and Community Empowerment
The fundamental concept to the PAR methodology is to achieve empowerment of
those involved. In the case of Pulau Mantanani, the local Bajau Ubian community is
headed by a village head which has been elected by the locals. The village head had
stayed in the same position for more than a decade and has resulted in some discomfort in some of the community members as many felt that the village head was only
allowing his family members to benefit from hand-outs from the tourists and government. This imbalance of power within the community has resulted in dissatisfaction
among some of the community members in terms of how the community can develop
sustainably and reduce the element of poverty in the island. The PAR method challenges the local island system of leadership and knowledge. When the community
research participants were given the opportunity to control the research agenda, and
to play an active role in the research, they established themselves as powerful agents
of change. Over the duration of the Alternative Livelihood Program, awareness on