690
Y. Rasyid
provides information for the researcher to plan and organize his or her next course
of action.
The PAR framework argues that people are the active agents for bringing about
social transformation; however, they (people) are often trapped in a web of societal
myths, obligations and relationships (Neuman 2000). In such a scenario, the PAR
researcher works critically to unravel the existing problems of oppression, exclusion,
biasness, power abuse etc. within a society, and target ways to bring social transformation through self-realization, emancipation and empowerment under the existing
circumstances (Dillard 1991). Thus, a PAR approach helps seek to expose a hidden
social oppression through self-realization and enlightenment in a society (Morgaine
1994).
5.2 The Limitations of the Participatory Action Research
(PAR) Method in Studying Sustainable Community
Development
Despite the immense values of the PAR method highlighted above, the case study
also documented some limitations to the application of this approach in studying
sustainable community development. The limitations identified in this case study are
elaborated in the next section.
5.2.1 Time and Resource Intensive
A high degree of investment in terms of time and relationship is one of the requirements of the PAR method which can be exhaustive for a researcher. Apart from
gaining trust and forming close working relationships with the local Bajau Ubian
community, the researcher is required to invest time and resources to plan, initiate
and participate in the community’s functions and events, and at times, blur the role
of a researcher and be a confidante to some of the local community members. Being
a married female researcher resulted in the development of a strong bond or friendship between the researcher and the local female community members where issues
on gender equality, contraception, education for children, and alternative income
generation by females were raised as concerns of the women in the Bajau Ubian
community. As such if the researcher is not willing to open up, or interested to have
others open up to them in community development research, the PAR method is a
limitation to the researcher.
Y. Rasyid
provides information for the researcher to plan and organize his or her next course
of action.
The PAR framework argues that people are the active agents for bringing about
social transformation; however, they (people) are often trapped in a web of societal
myths, obligations and relationships (Neuman 2000). In such a scenario, the PAR
researcher works critically to unravel the existing problems of oppression, exclusion,
biasness, power abuse etc. within a society, and target ways to bring social transformation through self-realization, emancipation and empowerment under the existing
circumstances (Dillard 1991). Thus, a PAR approach helps seek to expose a hidden
social oppression through self-realization and enlightenment in a society (Morgaine
1994).
5.2 The Limitations of the Participatory Action Research
(PAR) Method in Studying Sustainable Community
Development
Despite the immense values of the PAR method highlighted above, the case study
also documented some limitations to the application of this approach in studying
sustainable community development. The limitations identified in this case study are
elaborated in the next section.
5.2.1 Time and Resource Intensive
A high degree of investment in terms of time and relationship is one of the requirements of the PAR method which can be exhaustive for a researcher. Apart from
gaining trust and forming close working relationships with the local Bajau Ubian
community, the researcher is required to invest time and resources to plan, initiate
and participate in the community’s functions and events, and at times, blur the role
of a researcher and be a confidante to some of the local community members. Being
a married female researcher resulted in the development of a strong bond or friendship between the researcher and the local female community members where issues
on gender equality, contraception, education for children, and alternative income
generation by females were raised as concerns of the women in the Bajau Ubian
community. As such if the researcher is not willing to open up, or interested to have
others open up to them in community development research, the PAR method is a
limitation to the researcher.