Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Research Approach …
691
5.2.2 Focuses on the Need of the Community,
and not that of the Research
A traditional researcher expects empirical evidence of a cause-and-effect and typically hypothesizes in advance prior to studying a phenomenon. In this case, the
researcher plays the dominant role and a successful traditional research outcome
would be for instance define a successful research in terms of how the research outcomes allows for the formation of an original idea or outcome for the purpose of
advancing knowledge and research in a peer-reviewed body of academia. Compared
to a PAR researcher, the emphasis is on the needs of the community and a successful
PAR research generates an outcome which in the case of Pulau Mantanani, is about a
community-based participatory approach to reduction of poverty in Pulau Mantanani
through NGO interventions aim at building the capacity of the local community on
homestay tourism development, and a community-based environmental management
plan endorsed by the local community.
6 Summary of the Findings and Discussion
In this case study, the Alternative Livelihood Program initiated by the NGOs for
the benefit of the Bajau Ubian community in Pulau Mantanani has demonstrated
real-life issues and challenges faced by both the local community and NGOs in
attaining a sustainable livelihood on the island. Underpinning these issues, this case
study focused on the application of the PAR methodology as a research approach in
understanding and documenting the various factors that influence the sustainability
of the NGO interventions for the sustained benefit of the local community.
The PAR methodology demonstrated some values and limitations to research on
sustainable community development as indicated in the previous section. Nonetheless
the contribution of the PAR methodology is immense and is argued to the best fitted
methodology in all sustainable community development efforts especially for the
benefit of development actors like government agencies and NGOs. Government
agencies in their effort to deliver interventions to improve the development issues
faced by communities may have the funds, political support, and governance structure
to mobilize their resources to deliver interventions; however government agencies,
unlike NGOs, lack the proximity and element of trust with communities. As such,
NGOs are still seen as better vehicles of delivering interventions for improvement
of livelihood of communities.
The PAR approach would also be able to provide both the NGOs and the government with more knowledge and information, capture the real “voice” of the beneficiary communities, encourage community empowerment with the inclusive and
democratic participation of community members, and an opportunity for the intervention deliverer such as NGOs or government agencies, to reflect on their actions
and their role in the bigger picture of sustainable community development. For the
PAR researcher, his or her role is to work in close partnership with civil society organi-
691
5.2.2 Focuses on the Need of the Community,
and not that of the Research
A traditional researcher expects empirical evidence of a cause-and-effect and typically hypothesizes in advance prior to studying a phenomenon. In this case, the
researcher plays the dominant role and a successful traditional research outcome
would be for instance define a successful research in terms of how the research outcomes allows for the formation of an original idea or outcome for the purpose of
advancing knowledge and research in a peer-reviewed body of academia. Compared
to a PAR researcher, the emphasis is on the needs of the community and a successful
PAR research generates an outcome which in the case of Pulau Mantanani, is about a
community-based participatory approach to reduction of poverty in Pulau Mantanani
through NGO interventions aim at building the capacity of the local community on
homestay tourism development, and a community-based environmental management
plan endorsed by the local community.
6 Summary of the Findings and Discussion
In this case study, the Alternative Livelihood Program initiated by the NGOs for
the benefit of the Bajau Ubian community in Pulau Mantanani has demonstrated
real-life issues and challenges faced by both the local community and NGOs in
attaining a sustainable livelihood on the island. Underpinning these issues, this case
study focused on the application of the PAR methodology as a research approach in
understanding and documenting the various factors that influence the sustainability
of the NGO interventions for the sustained benefit of the local community.
The PAR methodology demonstrated some values and limitations to research on
sustainable community development as indicated in the previous section. Nonetheless
the contribution of the PAR methodology is immense and is argued to the best fitted
methodology in all sustainable community development efforts especially for the
benefit of development actors like government agencies and NGOs. Government
agencies in their effort to deliver interventions to improve the development issues
faced by communities may have the funds, political support, and governance structure
to mobilize their resources to deliver interventions; however government agencies,
unlike NGOs, lack the proximity and element of trust with communities. As such,
NGOs are still seen as better vehicles of delivering interventions for improvement
of livelihood of communities.
The PAR approach would also be able to provide both the NGOs and the government with more knowledge and information, capture the real “voice” of the beneficiary communities, encourage community empowerment with the inclusive and
democratic participation of community members, and an opportunity for the intervention deliverer such as NGOs or government agencies, to reflect on their actions
and their role in the bigger picture of sustainable community development. For the
PAR researcher, his or her role is to work in close partnership with civil society organi-