ABSTRACT
Participatory research in which experts and non-experts are co-researchers in addressing local concerns (also known as participatory action research or community-based research) can be a valuable approach for dealing with the uncertainty of social-ecological systems because it fosters learning among stakeholders and co-production of knowledge. Despite its increased application in the context of natural resources and environmental management, evaluation of participatory research has received little attention. The objectives of this research were to define criteria to evaluate participatory research processes and outcomes, from the literature on participation evaluation, and to apply them in a case study in an artisanal fishery in coastal Uruguay. Process evaluation criteria (e.g., problem to be addressed of key interest to local and additional stakeholders; involvement of interested stakeholder groups in every research stage; collective decision making through deliberation; and adaptability through iterative cycles) should be considered as conditions to promote empowering participatory research. Our research contributes to knowledge on evaluation of participatory research, while also providing evidence of the positive outcomes of this approach, such as co-production of knowledge, learning, strengthened social networks, and conflict resolution.
Subject(s)
Community-Based Participatory Research/methods , Conservation of Natural Resources/methods , Decision Making , Fisheries/methods , Research Design , Humans , Negotiating , Problem Solving , Social Support , UruguayABSTRACT
La Etología tuvo um desarrollo relativamente temprano en Uruguay de la mano de dos científicos que en la década de 1940 tomaron contacto com la escuela europea de Etología. Uno de ellos, el Dr. Rodolfo Tálice, fundó una línea de trabajo en comportamiento de roedores subterâneos del gênero Ctenomys. Por otro lado, el Dr. Raúl Vaz-Ferreira comenzó estudios comportamentales de las dos especies uruguayas de lobos marinos: Arctocephalus australis e Otaria flavescens. Ambas líneas de investigación perduran hasta el día de hoy con el un aumento de la producción científica y diversivicación de las áreas de estudio de la Etología, reflejada en el número de investigadores y publicaciones. Actualmente la Etología se desarrolla en siete laboratorios con enfoques muy variados que van desde la perspectiva clásica hasta la Fisiología ya la Neurobiología [AU]
