Maxime Madouas' thesis

Participatory research: “another kind of science”? A study of scientific reasoning styles at the heart of the REPERE participatory action research project on viticultural practices and vine health

This thesis questions the scientific nature of participatory research, often presented as an “alternative science” in opposition to traditional approaches. Based on my immersion in the “Participatory Research and Vine Health” team (RPSV, INRAE, Grand-Est, Colmar), I analyzed the concrete practices of participatory action research in light of the concept of “scientific reasoning style” developed by Ian Hacking. The case study, cross-referenced with the literature on participatory research, shows that it is neither a paradigm shift nor an alternative to so-called “positivist” science. The hypothesis of the emergence of a new style of reasoning—based in particular on the co-construction of knowledge between scientists and non-academic actors—allows us to recognize the originality of these approaches while emphasizing their complementarity with more traditional forms of research. This framework thus offers a path to reconciliation between scientific rigor and citizen participation.

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