A follow-up of village development at Lumpaya village, Thailand: can change processes initiated through action research be sustained?

Abstract

This article provides the results of a five-year follow-up to an action research project conducted by Mahidol University in conjunction with Lumpaya village. Interviews with the major players in the project from five years ago provided evidence that the research processes initiated in the original project have not only continued, but, in fact, have been enhanced. Successes not even envisioned five years ago have been implemented, and visions are in place to expand the development activities even further. We conclude from this follow-up evaluation that action research can be a powerful human resource development (HRD) tool for initiating long-term continued development in a village setting if the key actors are committed to the well-being of the village and are willing to work together collaboratively.

Keywords:

• action research
• community development
• sustainability
• national HRD
• Thailand