PARTICIPATIVE DIAGNOSIS WITH SOCIAL CARTOGRAPHY. Innovations in Participatory Action Research Methodology (PAR)

Participatory Action Research (PAR) is a methodology that recently has been successfully applied to local participatory processes. This article checks PAR cases in Europe and Latin America. Also, it presents innovative approaches such as the ecology of knowledge and cartography or social mapping. A cartographic form of PAR application based on a system of geographical information (SIG) is proposed. This approach also incorporates the production of wealth maps, capacities and potentials, and maps of transverse influences. Equally discussed are the objectives of cartography that serve the investigative process and the interest of incorporating the citizens into this production.