Rural Development Tools and Techniques
RDT620S
Question 1
(a) Discuss the Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) origins.
(18)
1. Biases recognised as: V
* Spatialv (visit the nearest cities, on roadsides, neglect of periphery) v
* Projectv (where projects were being undertaken, often with special official
attention and support) Vv
* Personv (meeting men more than women, elites than poor rural people) V
* Seasonalv (going in dry & cool rather than hot and wet season —which often
worse for poor rural people)v
* Diplomaticv (outsiders avoid to offend by asking to meet poor and see bad
conditions). V
2. Disillusionment with the normal process of questionnaire surveys and their results. V
* Questionnaire surveys v - long-drawn-out, tedious, a headache to administer, a
nightmare to process and write up, inaccurate & unreliable in data obtained,
leading to reports, if any which were long, boring, late, misleading, difficult to
use. VV
3. Most-cost effective methods of learning were sought. V
* Growing recognition of development professional to painfully recognise - rural
people were themselves knowledgeable on many subjects touched their lives. V
Vv
* Thus, Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK), was then increasingly seen to have
richness & value for practical purposes. V
(b) Demonstrate four ways how bias can enter a study.
(8)
* Researcher biasv: Each person on the RRA will absorb information differently
depending on his/her prior experience and perspectivev
* Informant biasv: by his/her experience, gender, spatial, wealth, education &
expectationv
* Tool and Technique biasv: Group vs. individual interview v
* Study design and implementation bias v (E.g. timing -seasonal bias) v
[27]
Question 2
(a) Outline at least nine Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) assumptions.
(9)
* Rural communities form an active foundation for rural developmentv
* Communities need committed local leaders to stir up their developmentv
* Communities have knowledge and information, but it needs to be organizedv
* Communities have resources but they need to be mobilizedv
* Community organizations are underutilizing resources available for development
effortsv
* It helps communities to — mobilize human and natural resources, define problemsv
Second Opportunity/ Supplementary Memorandum
Page 2 of 5
January 2020