Participatory Monitoring Myanmar

Abstract

To study large-scale patterns in the environment, like for example the change of water quality, a constant amount of data over an array of locations and time is required. However, in Myanmar only little data is available about water related topics which makes it hard to monitor changes that are taking place. A relative new and cheap way of obtaining and collecting data is the use of citizen science or participatory monitoring. Therefore this project investigates if there is any support among the citizens of Myanmar to join participatory monitoring projects and to find out more about the different underlying motivations for people to participate. This research is done by making use of an interview method based on Q methodology and did not only focus on the different reasons for people to participate but it also checked whether the motivations of people differ for different groups in society by making a distinction in age, education level, geographical location and interest. The overall view is that people in Myanmar are open towards joining projects like this. Many young people seemed interested in the concept of participatory monitoring, also because this relative new method to collect information clearly involves normal people like them within projects in which they normally wouldn't get involved in that easily. The implementation of participatory monitoring does not need to cost a lot, since most citizens add little value to receiving payment or certificates in return for collecting measurements for the project. When there is enough attention for the social importance of the research and the 'duty of being a citizen' is emphasized, it must be possible to find a sufficient amount of volunteers that are willing to participate. But while the outcome seems quite positive, there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered, so future research is recommended.