Mastering Participatory Research Skills

1. What skills do I need to do Participatory Research well? • To work effectively with farmers as partners in developing new agricultural technologies, you will need to practice some essentialcommunication and facilitation skills. These include • neutrality • good body language • good questioning skills and • good facilitation skills

2. What skills do I need to do Participatory Research well? • To work effectively with farmers as partners in developing new agricultural technologies, you will need to practice some essentialcommunication and facilitation skills. These include • neutrality • good body language • good questioning skills and • good facilitation skills

3. Why is it important tobe neutral? • The way you ask questions will influencethe answers you get. As you are interested in farmers’ opinions, do not influence their answers by asking leading questions. • Example of a leading question: “This is an excellent variety, don’t you think?”

4. What skills do I need to do Participatory Research well? • To work effectively with farmers as partners in developing new agricultural technologies, you will need to practice some essentialcommunication and facilitation skills. These include • neutrality • good body language • good questioning skills and • good facilitation skills

5. Why is it important touse good body language? • Your body language also influences farmers’ answers. Show that you value farmers’ opinions through good body language.

6. What skills do I need to do Participatory Research well? • To work effectively with farmers as partners in developing new agricultural technologies, you will need to practice some essentialcommunication and facilitation skills. These include • neutrality • good body language • good questioning skills and • good facilitation skills

7. What type of questionsshould I use? • Try to use open-ended questions and follow these up withprobing questions.Open-ended questions invite farmers to reply freely and openly. Probing questions help you gain more insight into the farmers’ answers. .

8. Examples of open-ended and probing questions… • What do you think about these grass varieties?” (O) • ….I like this variety the best. • Why do you like this variety better than the others? (P) • ….Well, it has soft green leaves. • Why is that important? (P) • ….They are easy to cut and my animals like to eat softleaves. • Is there anything else you like about this variety?” (O) • ….It stays green in the dry season while the others turn brown quickly”

9. What skills do I need to do Participatory Research well? • To work effectively with farmers as partners in developing new agricultural technologies, you will need to practice some essentialcommunication and facilitation skills. These include • neutrality • good body language • good questioning skills and • good facilitation skills

10. What are good facilitation skills? • As part of your work with farmers, you will need to facilitate many meetings with villages and focus-groups. Here are some ideas which will help you become a better facilitator: • Use open-ended questions to stimulate discussion • Follow-up ideas with probing questions • Stop anyone from dominating • Encourage participation by all farmers

11. What are good facilitation skills? • Guide the meeting towards its goal • Keep the meeting moving to maintain farmers’ interest • Take breaks when people are tired • Respect local customs and etiquette • Summarise the result of the discussion • Use cards to help organise ideas • Maintain neutrality • Anticipate what might happen and be prepared

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