Part A (Q3): What do you mean by Participatory Research?

Participatory Research is a methodological paradigm that fundamentally changes the relationship between the researcher and the subjects.

Instead of traditional "extractive" research (where an outside expert comes in, extracts data from the community, and leaves to analyze it), participatory research is done with and by the community.

Key Features:

1. Co-Researchers: The community members are treated as co-researchers and experts of their own lived realities, not just passive subjects.
2. Shared Control: The community has a say in what is researched, how the data is collected, and how it is analyzed.
3. Action-Oriented: The ultimate goal is not just to publish a paper, but to empower the community through the research process itself, leading directly to social action and change that benefits them.