EU FP7
LIVEDIVERSE
Sustainable Livelihoods and Biodiversity in Developing
Countries
Six Month Report (August 2010 – January 2011)
WP4: Public beliefs, perceptions, attitudes and preferences.
CSIR
Authors: K. Nortje & M. Claassen
March 2011
WP4: Public beliefs, perceptions, attitudes and preferences.
Six Month Report (August 2010 to January 2011)
1. A summary of progress towards objectives and details for each task
a. Analytical Framework (Milestone 4.1, Task 4.2):
During reporting period one (Sem 1: Feb –July 2009) WP4 held an internal (to South
Africa) workshop with experts in the field to workshop ideas around the
construction of an analytical framework. All the inputs from those attending the
workshop were captured. WP4 took these recommendations into consideration and
prepared a draft framework.
During reporting period two (Sem 2: Aug 2009-Jan 2010) WP4 undertook a series of
field visits from October to December 2009. The case study areas that were visited
are South Africa, Vietnam, Costa Rica and India. During these field visits the WP4
team tested the Analytical Framework to see how it might work in the field. The
framework was then adapted to include findings from the field and a final draft
emerged from this process. The framework was presented to the team early in
March 2010 during the consortium meeting.
During reporting period three (Sem 3: February 2010-July 2010) the WP4 team spent
several weeks in the field gathering data to support the Framework.
During reporting period four (Sem 4: August 2010-January 2011) WP4 embarked
on an intensive data analysis process of the qualitative data received from South
Africa, Costa Rica and India. The South African data analysis has been completed
and the analysis for the India and Costa Rica data is well on its way. Due to a delay
in the provision of the Vietnam data, this analysis has not yet started.
b. Belief Scale (Milestone 4.2, Tasks 4.1, 4.3, 4.4)
During reporting period one (Sem 1: Feb –July 2009) WP4 delivered a literature
review that looks at belief scales and how they may be operationalised in research
on belief systems.
During reporting period two (Sem 2: Aug 2009-Jan 2010) WP4 held an internal
workshop (building on the findings from the literature review) which focussed on a
construction of a Biodiversity and Livelihoods Belief Scale. Suggestions and
comments have been recorded and the WP4 have constructed such a draft belief
scale (ready for testing) which was presented at the March consortium meeting and
tested in 2010.
During reporting period three (Sem 3: February 2010-July 2010) WP4 spent several
weeks in the field gathering data to support the Belief Scale.
During reporting period four (Sem 4: August 2010-January 2011) WP4 have
completed the quantitative analysis of the belief scale data as captured during the
household surveys which were conducted earlier in the year. Further analysis of
the belief scale, with inputs from the co-ordinator, will commence presently.
2. Description of the main results achieved so far
During reporting period four (Sem 4: August 2010-January 2011) the following results have
been achieved:
a. Analytical Framework (Milestone 4.1, Task 4.2):
i. Initial results on the framework as well as a draft of the framework have
been presented at the International Association for the Study of the
Commons Conference in Hyderabad, India in January 2011. The results were
favourably met and discussed.
ii. Preliminary results for the framework have produced ten process themes
that are of considerable importance for the successful implementation of
the emergent analytical framework. These emergent process themes are:
Researcher positionality (Positionality of the researcher becomes explicit;
Researcher profile, gender, race age); Respondents’ perception of the
interviewer (Respondents’ perceptions of who we are; Respondents
answering what they think the researchers want to hear ; Respondent fears
the reaction of the interviewer); Application of method (Time of day and its
impact on the results; Where the interaction was held, ie. at their home,
outside etc; Interruption of daily chores by interaction; Geographical setting
and access to the village; Sequence of research method process); Interpreter
positionality (Interpreter context/ background; Interpreter’s profile);
Researcher Expectations and Preconceptions (Didn’t get expected answer –
intrusion of own perspective on research process; Researcher’s willingness to
probe or ask sensitive questions; Preconceived notions held by researchers
regarding the characteristics of the method e.g. more people arrive);
Interpretation Issues (Changing meaning of questions – knowledge or
language domains; Lost in translation); Method Attributes (Presence of
interpreters; Method appropriate to context of case study area;
Respondent’s experience of the method(comfort, trust comprehension);
Opportunity created for researcher to probe further); Respondent Reaction
(Group structure (age, gender and hierarchy) dynamic can influence the
answers; Respondents feel more at ease with same gender; Cultural taboos
reflected in the way respondents reacts to researcher’s sex; Male’s
reluctance to engage female interviewers); Relationship between research
partners (interpreter /researcher partnership; Understanding of individual in
time and space (diachronic and synchronic); Building a rapport); Planning
(Clarity of information requested; Length of interaction and its impact on the
results; Sequence in which research methods were conducted).
iii. Preliminary results for the framework have produced ten content themes
that have emerged as significant points of discussion as part of the study on
beliefs, perceptions and attitudes of these particular communities (and
countries) through the use of the emergent analytical framework. The
emergent content themes are: Cultural and Spiritual Markers; Local
Knowledge; Trust/belief in traditional leadership; Contrasts and duality;
Context; Agency and Sense of Self; Trust in Government; Community
Dynamics; Perceptions of the biophysical; and, infinite availability of
resources.
b. Belief Scale (Milestone 4.2, Tasks 4.1, 4.3, 4.4)
The analysis of the belief scale questions show that for all the questions, the
differences between countries are significant. The differences for the responses
between villages for Costa Rican villages are not significant for any of the questions,
whereas for South Africa, the difference between villages are significant for 2
questions and not so for four questions. For India and Vietnam respectively, the
differences between the villages are significant for four questions out of six.
c. Stakeholder interaction and feedback
During reporting period three and four WP4 made a concerted effort to engage the
local and regional stakeholders in study. The fieldwork interactions with the local
communities have been an excellent way to establish a good communication and
working relationship between the researchers and the communities themselves. As
a part of this effort WP4 has made a concerted effort to foster a close working
relationship with the local leadership of these villages. Continuous communication
in the form of one-on-one meetings between the leadership and the team, and
regular feedback and updates from the team has been essential in the last six
months also.
3. If applicable, explain the reasons for deviations from Annex I and their impact on other tasks
as well as on available resources and planning
a. Analytical Framework (Milestone 4.1, Task 4.2):
Data to support the analytical framework has not been collected in one of the case study
sites (Vietnam). As such, the WP4 team have organised to conduct the interviews
themselves (with the help of the Vietnamese partner). As a result the data analysis
process has been somewhat delayed.
4. Milestones
Milestones
Milestone
no.
Milestone
name
Work
package
no.
Lead
beneficiary
Delivery
Date
from
Annex 1
Achieved
yes/no
Actual/
Forecast
achievement
date
Comments
4.1
Analytical
Framework
WP4
CSIR
9
Yes
1 August
2009
Status: Delayed but
on track.
Currently in final
draft format –
presented and
discussed at the
March 2010
Consortium
meeting. Data
collection to support
mostly done.
Analysis underway.
Draft Analytical
Framework is
available at
LiveDiverse internal
web site
http://www.livedive
rse.eu/?page_id=48
3
4.2
Draft Belief
Scale
WP4
CSIR
12
Yes
01 July
2010
Status: On time and
on track.
First draft format presented and
discussed at the
March 2010
Consortium
meeting. Final
version included in
the Household
Survey. Analysis
underway.
5. There are no deliverables due for this reporting period for WP4.