Strengths and limitations

RRA has a number of appealing strengths. Foremost, investigations can be done quickly and inexpensively - features that appeal to policy-makers and persons who control budgets. RRAs can be planned and conducted in a short time to meet critical decision deadlines. The flexibility of RRA methods also allows investigators to make full use of local knowledge and expertise as these become known. In addition, the RRA approach encourages full participation of local leaders and others in all phases of an investigation. This opens opportunities for long term capacity building among participants in a RRA.

RRAs also have potential serious limitations. The greatest limitation is the constant threat of bias, misunderstanding of what is observed or heard, and errors committed by investigators. Bias can be introduced by the way the problem or issue is defined, how data are collected and analyzed, and how conclusions are drawn. In addition, persons with vested interests may try to bias the results of an evaluation. Also, investigators can introduce systematic errors and bias.Triangulation, however, can reduce or eliminate bias and other errors.

RRAs serve a specific purpose, and that is provide relevant, sufficient, trustworthy data quickly and inexpensively for use in deciding on a course of action. When precise descriptive data are needed for hypothesis testing or when the purpose is to generate results for generalizing to a population, rigorous designs, as described in the previous chapters, should be used.

Ethical issues

The previous chapter on evaluation ends with a review of ethical issues associated with conducting evaluations. The same issues apply to RRA investigations. If you are planning to conduct a RRA we suggest you review the ethical guidelines discussed in Chapter 6 and Chapter 14.

Aids

Key terms

Field notes Multi-method research Proxies

Participatory rural appraisal Rapid rural appraisal Triangulation

Main points

1. Multi-method research is based on using more than one method or technique for the collection of data.
2. Researchers use a multi-method approach to benefit from the strengths of each method and to minimize its corresponding limitations.
3. Rapid rural appraisal (RRA) or participatory rural appraisal (PRA) uses a multi-method approach to research with emphasis on quick, inexpensive ways of collecting valid, reliable data.
4. Distinctive features of RRA or PRA research are: use of multi-methods of data collection; use of   proxies for indicators; reliance on triangulation for verifying observations, results, and conclusions; extensive participation by local persons in the research; reversal or at least more equal researcher and participant roles; acceptance of approximations and less precise findings; successive approximations to results; and training of local persons in problem solving.
5. Steps in conducting a RRA or PRA investigation include; obtaining local approval and cooperation; becoming thoroughly familiar with RRA methods and the local social setting; agreeing with local leaders on the research question and plans for data collection; collecting and analyzing data; and establishing the conclusions, formulating recommendations, and writing the final report.
6. Strengths of RRA or PRA research include: low cost, quick implementation and rapid completion; flexibility in methods; and opportunities for involving local persons in the research.
7. Limitations of RRA or PRA include the possibility of bias and error on the part of the investigator or investigative team.
8. RRA or PRA researchers have to be sensitive to ethical issues. Frequently, these issues are similar to those that arise in other evaluation studies.

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