Which PRAP technique is commonly used?

• A. Sketch mapping
• B. Structured postal surveys
• C. Laboratory experiments
• D. Satellite surveillance

Answer: (A)

Sketch mapping is a core PRA tool because it turns local knowledge into a visible, discussable map of the community’s space. By inviting participants to draw features like land boundaries, resources, paths, wells, and problem areas, it creates a shared reference that people can talk through together. The process surfaces relationships and priorities that might be hard to capture with questions alone, and it engages people of varying literacy levels since the output is a concrete image rather than abstract data. The map acts as a springboard for discussion, verification, and collective planning, making it a quick, inclusive, and flexible technique that suits grassroots assessments well.

Structured postal surveys rely on formal questionnaires and literacy, and they don’t foster the same interactive, collaborative mapping process. Laboratory experiments are conducted in controlled settings and aren’t typical PRA activities in community planning. Satellite surveillance provides remote data without direct community involvement, lacking the participatory dimension that PRA emphasizes.