PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH
   IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT.
          INVESTIGATIONS IN LIVEZILE-RIMETEA
           MICRO-REGION (2001-2002 and 2007-2008)

              Mihai Pascaru, „1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia


ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to present some important aspects of the way in
which participatory research may contribute to the management of territorial
development, through the identification of problems and development opportunities in a
given territory. We will first identify some epistemological and methodological aspects
which regard participatory research as a means of action research. Next, we will uphold
the idea of restoring the scientific research results as an instrument for the construction
and promotion of local actors’ participation in the development processes. To this end we
will present extensively two series of research carried out in the Livezile-Rimetea micro-
region (county of Alba, Romania), respectively the series of research between 2001-2002
and 2007-2008. As a result of this research we identified and developed the methodology
of restoring of results through interviews or public debates, with a view to reinforcing the
human support in the region under scrutiny.

Keywords: territorial development, participatory research, restoring of results, development
opportunities.

JEL codes: O10, F10, P10, N13