Report on Rapid Rural Appraisal Activities

This report discusses the adoption and institutionalisation of RRA at Khon Kaen University, Thailand. It begins with reflections on the development of RRA methodology and critical problems and challenges faced. These include social scientists' dilemmas in co-operating in multidisciplinary teams, the lack of identity of RRA, and the lack of models and experiences to guide interactions and research in the development of RRA. The report ends with a caution that these apparent successes were due to chance factors (such as the presence of a number of village-oriented staff at one time), that RRA is a set of methods which require continuous practice, and that shared thinking has been a key contributor. Specific RRA activities, undertaken between 1983 and 1985, are reported in the appendices, including training, development of RRA materials, topical RRAs and the adoption of RRA within the university.