--- title: "Participatory appraisal, FGD and resource mapping" subject: "Technology, Environment and Society" chapter: 2 key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:participatory-appraisal-fgd" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/participatory-appraisal-fgd site: BCT Engineering --- # Participatory appraisal, FGD and resource mapping Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 2: Development Approach - Asked in: 2075 Asoj, 8 marks - Video: [How To Run A Successful Focus Group in 5 Easy To Follow Steps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjQtu6yeC1E) — Spiel Creative - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/participatory-appraisal-fgd - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-2 ## Question Define participatory appraisal. Explain focus group discussion and resources mapping. ## Short answer Participatory appraisal is an approach where local people collect, analyze, and present information about their own conditions, with outsiders as facilitators, using visual tools. A focus group discussion is a guided discussion among 6–12 similar people. Resource mapping is a PRA tool where villagers draw their area's natural and physical resources. ## Answer **Participatory appraisal** (Participatory Rural Appraisal, PRA, or Participatory Learning and Action) is an approach in which local people themselves collect, analyse and present information about their own conditions, problems and resources, with outsiders acting only as **facilitators**. It uses simple visual tools (maps, diagrams, ranking) so that even non-literate people can take part, and it leads to plans that the community owns. **Principles:** people's participation, learning from the community, flexibility, triangulation (checking from many sources), "handing over the stick" to the people, and focusing on the poor and women. **Common tools:** social and resource mapping, transect walk, seasonal calendar, time line, wealth ranking, Venn (chapati) diagram, matrix ranking, FGD, key informant interview. #### Focus group discussion (FGD) An FGD is a planned discussion among a small, similar group of people (about **6–12**, e.g. women water users or landless farmers) on one topic, led by a facilitator using a checklist of questions. - **Steps:** 1. Decide the objective and prepare a checklist. 2. Select participants with similar background so all can speak freely. 3. Choose a comfortable place and time; explain purpose. 4. Facilitator guides discussion (1–2 hours), encourages quiet members; a note-taker records. 5. Summarise main points and confirm them with the group. - **Uses:** finding needs, priorities, reasons behind problems, opinions about a project. - **Strengths:** quick, cheap, rich qualitative information, people build on each other's ideas. - **Weaknesses:** dominant members, not statistically representative, needs skilled facilitator. #### Resources mapping Resource mapping is a PRA tool in which villagers draw their area on the ground or paper showing **natural and physical resources**: forests, rivers, springs, farmland, pasture, roads, schools, health posts and hazard areas. - **Steps:** gather a mixed group → draw boundary and landmarks → add resources with symbols or local materials → discuss use, access, ownership and problems → copy on paper → verify by transect walk. - **Uses:** shows what resources exist and who controls them, finds problems (e.g. drying springs), identifies potential (e.g. site for micro-hydro) and forms the base for village planning. ```text [Community forest] ~~~ Khola ~~~ | | [Grazing land] [Irrigated khet] \ / [Settlement]--(School) | (Spring)--(Health post) ``` ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. In participatory appraisal (PRA), what is the role of outsiders? A. Facilitators, while local people collect and analyse the information B. Decision makers who analyse data alone C. Surveyors who fill questionnaires D. Observers who stay away from the community Answer: A. PRA lets local people do the appraisal; outsiders only facilitate. (Key point: Participatory appraisal) 2. What does triangulation mean in PRA? A. Dividing the group into three teams B. Using three-point surveying C. Checking information from many sources D. Ranking problems in three levels Answer: C. Triangulation cross-checks information using several sources and methods. (Key point: Principle of triangulation) 3. Why are FGD participants chosen with a similar background? A. So the sample is statistically representative B. So everyone can speak freely C. So that the discussion ends faster D. So no facilitator is needed Answer: B. Similar background reduces domination and encourages free talk, though results are not statistically representative. (Key point: FGD participants) 4. Which is a use of resource mapping? A. Measuring exact household income B. Calculating the structural strength of a bridge C. Testing soil bearing capacity D. Showing what resources exist and who controls them, and identifying problems like drying springs Answer: D. The map shows existence, access and control of resources, problems and potential for planning. (Key point: Resource mapping uses) ## Related in Technology, Environment and Society - [Short note: Focus group discussion](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Afocus-group-discussion) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 2, asked 3× - [Structured questionnaires and focus group meeting](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Astructured-questionnaire-fgd) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 2 - [Resource mapping](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aresource-mapping) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 2, asked 2× - [Resource mapping and ethnographic survey](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aresource-mapping-ethnographic) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 2 - [Resource mapping and wealth/poverty ranking](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aresource-mapping-wealth-ranking) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 2 ## Related in other subjects - [Group discussion and participation techniques](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Agroup-discussion-techniques) — Communication English, chapter 4