Questioning the research practice: collaborative experiences in two regions in Mexico

Abstract

This work analyzes some difficulties found in the practice of collaborative research in rural areas in Mexico, each with its historical peculiarities and passed through the application of public policies or economic policies. The researcher's activist participation has multiple advantages in that it applies development concepts outside the community environment that are sometimes not reflected by the protagonist actors. The objective of the text is to reflect on the collaborative research practice, exposing the successes and failures of the process and the challenges to overcome. As part of the research experience, the concept of social intervention is discussed, which is associated with collaborative research, in the center of participation is understood by the subjects. In this text are described the concepts and methodological aspects raised by the specialists in the subject of social intervention, then associate it with collaborative research with a human rights approach. The two collaborative research experiences focussed are described, and we reflect on the accompaniment process and the reflections on the decisions regarding the objectives, methodology and results, as well as the experience of the dialogue with the collectives with the collaboration for knowledge.