framed in terms of government or party categories, reflecting official ideology and
policy. This exacerbates the prevalence of normative accounts (‘what ought to be’)
and can make accessing positive-descriptive statements (‘what is’) difficult. Therefore, the default use of Vietnamese in PRA exercises tends to silence marginal local
groups and amplifies official, ‘politically correct’ statements, particularly with
regard to sensitive topic areas such as family planning or forest protection.
Nevertheless, the research team which applied the above mentioned PRA tools
found them a useful aid in terms of encouraging and structuring communication
with the villagers. In general, PRA tools were used early in the research process and
as a complement to the main suite of methods and measurements applied.
9.2.2.1 Openness of PRA Tools and Surprises
PRA tools are of particular value in the exploratory phase of field research, due
chiefly to their openness, something which enables researchers to correct
misconceptions and enrich the picture held by researchers of the local reality. The
following example highlights how a PRA tool can fulfill this promise – if due
attention is paid to the process of applying the tool as well its immediate aftermath.
In order to gain an initial insight into the farming system components and
dynamics applied in Yen Chau district, the main study area of the Uplands Program,
a resource flow diagram was jointly developed by the research team and a small
group of male Black Thai farmers. The main elements used in this session were a
joint diagramming activity and its immediate aftermath, when the main respondent
gave his views on farm innovations. He was happy to discuss the individual
components to be found on his farm and their role in terms of income generation
and food provision, and their relative demands on labor.
Table 9.1 Research specialties, PRA tools and topic areas
Agricultural
sciences
specialism
PRA tool
Topic (ethnic group of the respondents in brackets)
Pasture
management
Village mapping
Land use changes and pasture use (Hmong)
Matrix: Buffalo feeding Sources of buffalo fodder (Hmong)
Aquaculture
Fish production
diagramming
Aquaculture system and problems, fish diseases,
minimizing disease damage (Black Thai, Kinh)
Common pool
resources:
Resource flow diagrams Farm components, comparing respective flows of
labor input, cash and nutrients (Black Thai)
Matrix: Service
organizations
Comparison of power relations and impact of
different outside agencies (Black Thai)
Risk
management
Seasonal calendar
Seasonal variations in income, labor, food and water
availability (Black Thai)
Livelihood profiles
Main sources of livelihoods, factors in
impoverishment (Kho Mu)
Biographies
Major events in wealthy and poor women’s lives
(Kho Mu)
328
A. Neef et al.
policy. This exacerbates the prevalence of normative accounts (‘what ought to be’)
and can make accessing positive-descriptive statements (‘what is’) difficult. Therefore, the default use of Vietnamese in PRA exercises tends to silence marginal local
groups and amplifies official, ‘politically correct’ statements, particularly with
regard to sensitive topic areas such as family planning or forest protection.
Nevertheless, the research team which applied the above mentioned PRA tools
found them a useful aid in terms of encouraging and structuring communication
with the villagers. In general, PRA tools were used early in the research process and
as a complement to the main suite of methods and measurements applied.
9.2.2.1 Openness of PRA Tools and Surprises
PRA tools are of particular value in the exploratory phase of field research, due
chiefly to their openness, something which enables researchers to correct
misconceptions and enrich the picture held by researchers of the local reality. The
following example highlights how a PRA tool can fulfill this promise – if due
attention is paid to the process of applying the tool as well its immediate aftermath.
In order to gain an initial insight into the farming system components and
dynamics applied in Yen Chau district, the main study area of the Uplands Program,
a resource flow diagram was jointly developed by the research team and a small
group of male Black Thai farmers. The main elements used in this session were a
joint diagramming activity and its immediate aftermath, when the main respondent
gave his views on farm innovations. He was happy to discuss the individual
components to be found on his farm and their role in terms of income generation
and food provision, and their relative demands on labor.
Table 9.1 Research specialties, PRA tools and topic areas
Agricultural
sciences
specialism
PRA tool
Topic (ethnic group of the respondents in brackets)
Pasture
management
Village mapping
Land use changes and pasture use (Hmong)
Matrix: Buffalo feeding Sources of buffalo fodder (Hmong)
Aquaculture
Fish production
diagramming
Aquaculture system and problems, fish diseases,
minimizing disease damage (Black Thai, Kinh)
Common pool
resources:
Resource flow diagrams Farm components, comparing respective flows of
labor input, cash and nutrients (Black Thai)
Matrix: Service
organizations
Comparison of power relations and impact of
different outside agencies (Black Thai)
Risk
management
Seasonal calendar
Seasonal variations in income, labor, food and water
availability (Black Thai)
Livelihood profiles
Main sources of livelihoods, factors in
impoverishment (Kho Mu)
Biographies
Major events in wealthy and poor women’s lives
(Kho Mu)
328
A. Neef et al.