Participatory Research will endeavor to accordingly address;

• themes that require ethical, social or cultural study and may call for a choice between fundamental values and principles
• policy issues that call for a combination of public awareness, learning, a search for solutions and emotional or moral acceptance of the eventual decision
• public policy choices that will rely on the precautionary principle or the weight of evidence underlying values and principles that must be clarified before detailed proposals or risk management options are brought forward
• a clearly defined set of options or proposals that support the search for consensus or innovative solutions.

In an effort to enhance participation in all project phases, from planning to evaluation, many different techniques have been devised and adapted. Some techniques aid analysis of the issues at hand, while others focus on facilitation and coordination of the group process itself. Many of these techniques, alone or in combination, can be useful in any participatory processes.

As an analytical framework, we distinguish between analytical techniques, facilitation techniques and what we call ‘methods’ proper.