Researching on Indigenous Knowledge: Community-Based Participatory Case Study on Intergenerational Transmission of Traditional Medicinal Plant Knowledge

Abstract

This research is based in the participatory field research conducted by the first author as part of his PhD research from January 2004 to February 2005 in two villages of Maharashtra, India. It chronicles the research journey that explores intergenerational transmission of traditional medicinal plants knowledge by working with rural community healers. The researcher used an across-the-stages mixed-model design (combines qualitative and quantitative methods at various stages of research) in consultation with research participants to examine the traditional medicinal plants knowledge skills necessary to become a community healer from the perspectives of both young and old generations of healers. The researcher's experiences at the critical stages of this case study field research are highlighted particularly in the use of literature for positioning the research; operationalizing important terms and substantiating findings; selecting and finalizing the field research design, participants, methods, and research questions; implementing field-based participatory and mixed-design methods; analyzing and verifying data; and using ethical procedures and sharing of research results. This research provides valuable lessons for designing, implementing, and evaluating participatory field research on the least-explored area of intergenerational transmission of indigenous knowledge systems and suggests useful pointers for working with community healers, Indigenous knowledge holders and communities.

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