IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE Irrig. and Drain. 50: 173–193 (2001) DOI: 10.1002/ird.17 ASSESSING THE OPINIONS OF USERS OF WATER PROJECTS 1 CHARLES L. ABERNETHY a , K. JINAPALA b AND I.W. MAKIN c, * a 5 Haelock Road, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka b International Water Management Institute, P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka c Applied Information and Modelling Systems, International Water Management Institute, P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka ABSTRACT A methodology is described for measuring the opinions of rural people who are affected by water-related development and conservation projects. The method is illustrated by results from three applications of the methodology at sites in Sri Lanka. Aspects of the technique, the preparation of questionnaires, and the analysis of findings, are discussed. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. KEY WORDS: rural surveys; quantified opinions; water resources; irrigation; Sri Lanka RE ´ SUME ´ Une me ´thodologie est explique ´e pour le mesurement des opinions de la communaute ´ rurale qui sont influence ´s par le de ´veloppement lie ´a ` l’eau ainsi que les projets de conservation. La me ´thode est illustre ´e par des re ´sultats de trois applications de cette me ´thodologie dans de diffe ´rents sites au Sri Lanka. Les aspects techniques, la pre ´paration des questionnaires et les analyses des re ´sultats sont e ´taye ´s. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. MOTS CLE ´ S: enque ˆtes rurales; opinions quantifiables; ressources en eau; irrigation; Sri Lanka 1 INTRODUCTION This paper describes a methodology that can be used to obtain quantitative measurements of the opinions of people about issues that affect them closely on irrigation systems and other kinds of water development projects. The methods described can be applied easily and rapidly. They can be used among communities where there are high rates of illiteracy, as well as in more educated communities. They have been applied by the authors and other collaborators in a variety of different contexts, in four Asian countries. Three specific applications, all in Sri Lanka, are described here. The methodology has potentially high importance in planning of projects and monitoring of progress. It enables project designers to obtain better insight into the wishes of the most affected people, and therefore to take better account of those wishes during formulation of projects. With this knowledge, projects can be adjusted so as to increase local support, co-operation and ultimately benefits. Because these procedures are designed to be applied quickly, the opinions of large samples of the community can be tested and measured. With large sample sizes, subsets can be reliably * Correspondence to: IWMI, P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 1 Evaluation des opinions des utilisateurs de projets de l’eau. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Receied 29 September 2000 Reised 31 January 2001 Accepted 14 February 2001