Participatory research is both a range of methods and an ideological perspective. Its fundamental principles are that the subjects of the research become involved as partners in the process of the enquiry, and that their knowledge and capabilities are respected and valued.
Researchers act as facilitators and work towards attaining equality in these two relationships.
Transforming these dynamics is achieved by enabling local people to articulate their views and express their knowledge through describing and analysing their own situation and problems. Many participatory research processes also have an action component, which involve the participants in successive cycles of analysis, reflection and action.
Embracing these human centered methods of research means believing that all problems, even the seemingly impossible ones like; food insecurity, poverty, garbage disposal, gender equality, access to clean water are all solvable and by the community members that experience them first hand. It is believing that the people who face these problems everyday hold the key to their answers and therefore making sure that they are a part of the process from the beginning.