Programme Planning, Implementation and Evalution

PROGRAMME PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION 2(1+1)

Lesson 31 : Techniques of Participatory Rural Appraisal

Structured Direct Observation

This PRA technique involves systematic observation and prompt recording of the following

• objects, events, places and processes
• physical structures in village
• social differences
• behaviour, people and their relationships
• action and symbols of people

Observation during all phases of a study contributes information on continuous basis. Some key tips for direct observation include:

• Decide a particular theme/ topic to be observed for a particular time
• Record observations as soon as possible
• Guidelines be made for recording observation
• The place, time and method of observation be decided before hand

What people say and what they do are to be observed is complicated because these are two different aspects. Sometimes people idealize a situation and tell things which are more a description of how things should be rather than how things are at present. Reason for this difference is that while talking about routine activities, a person is only able to give information about some aspects of this activity. But direct observation helps to record all the minute observations. Usually farmers do not talk much about their routine activities, like selection of seeds, preparation of seed mixtures etc., they simply do it and hence simple observation is the best method to record.

• Farmers often say things, which do not correspond with reality. What people tell in interviews is not a picture of the reality, but their mental construction of the activities. Direct observation allows a cross-check of findings of what people tell.
• Direct observation can also be used to generate on-the-spot questions in direct interaction with the farmers. This helps farmers to explain things which are grounded in their activity and not on their remembrance of the activity.
• On the other hand, it helps scientists to generate questions. Structured direct observation is better conducted by a team to minimize individual biases and needs to be discussed with the people to gain an insider’s perspective.
• When a complex event is observed, the team should plan and divide roles to get multiple viewpoints. Different observers could concentrate on different groups of people as women, men, children and outsiders.