Participatory Action Research for Electronic Community Networking Projects

Abstract

The paper encourages the adoption of participative action research methodologies for the evaluation of community technology, given the complex and emergent mix of community development and information technology, which these projects represent. Much of the richness of the processes that take place can best be captured through collaborative participative research that is valued by communities, rather than through less engaged approaches. The use of participative methodologies will give communities a better understanding of research processes leading to uses of new technologies that are more effective. A participatory action research tool test for electronic community networking is introduced, and its use is described in several countries. For an emergent field such as community technology or community networking, an adaptation of action research that can provide a “thick description,” the range of meanings, interpretations, and effects of human and technical interactions, which come to constitute community networking for community development, therefore appears timely.

Keywords:

• participatory action research
• participatory evaluation
• community-based research
• community technology
• electronic community networking
• community informatics
• effective use