E. J. Milner-Gulland and Marcus Rowcliffe
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- January 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780198530367
- eISBN:
- 9780191713095
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198530367.003.0003
- Subject:
- Biology, Biodiversity / Conservation Biology
This chapter summarizes the methods available for collecting data about people's motivations for natural resource use, thus providing information on the social and economic facets of sustainability. ...
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This chapter summarizes the methods available for collecting data about people's motivations for natural resource use, thus providing information on the social and economic facets of sustainability. The key methods covered include questionnaire surveys, participatory methods, direct observations, experimental economics, cost-benefit analysis and the use of existing databases such as government records. The emphasis is on effective sampling in order to provide representative quantitative results, but qualitative methods for understanding resource users' motivations are also covered. Research on people can cause significant harm if not carried out sensitively, and ethical issues are examined, outlining the steps needed to avoid any negative impacts of the research. Understanding social and economic sustainability generally requires a case-specific combination of techniques, and a set of case studies is used to illustrate a range of possible approaches.Less
This chapter summarizes the methods available for collecting data about people's motivations for natural resource use, thus providing information on the social and economic facets of sustainability. The key methods covered include questionnaire surveys, participatory methods, direct observations, experimental economics, cost-benefit analysis and the use of existing databases such as government records. The emphasis is on effective sampling in order to provide representative quantitative results, but qualitative methods for understanding resource users' motivations are also covered. Research on people can cause significant harm if not carried out sensitively, and ethical issues are examined, outlining the steps needed to avoid any negative impacts of the research. Understanding social and economic sustainability generally requires a case-specific combination of techniques, and a set of case studies is used to illustrate a range of possible approaches.
Sabina Alkire
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- April 2004
- ISBN:
- 9780199245796
- eISBN:
- 9780191600838
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199245797.003.0007
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
The sixth and seventh chapters that make up Part II of the book consist of one practical and much narrower application of the capability approach, namely, a discussion of how economic analysis ...
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The sixth and seventh chapters that make up Part II of the book consist of one practical and much narrower application of the capability approach, namely, a discussion of how economic analysis (cost‐benefit analysis) and systematic qualitative information on human impacts can be combined in order to assess the relative effectiveness of particular development activities in expanding human capabilities. This seventh chapter comprises case studies of three small Oxfam activities in Pakistan on which both cost‐benefit analysis and the further assessment of impacts were applied. The methodology described in Ch. 6 was developed, and these case studies were conducted, over nine months of field research in Pakistan with non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) that undertake income generation activities among poor communities using participatory methods. The aim was to develop a participatory method for evaluating development activities (at different stages of implementation) that field staff could implement themselves, and that would facilitate the kind of self‐direction and scrutiny of values issues advocated by Amartya Sen's capability approach. The three case studies were of women's income generation activities in Pakistan: loans for goat‐rearing, involving the local NGO the Rural Women's Welfare Organization; adult literacy and community development—the Khoj literacy activity project; and rose cultivation, involving the Marvi Women's Organization in the village of Arabsolangi, Sindh.Less
The sixth and seventh chapters that make up Part II of the book consist of one practical and much narrower application of the capability approach, namely, a discussion of how economic analysis (cost‐benefit analysis) and systematic qualitative information on human impacts can be combined in order to assess the relative effectiveness of particular development activities in expanding human capabilities. This seventh chapter comprises case studies of three small Oxfam activities in Pakistan on which both cost‐benefit analysis and the further assessment of impacts were applied. The methodology described in Ch. 6 was developed, and these case studies were conducted, over nine months of field research in Pakistan with non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) that undertake income generation activities among poor communities using participatory methods. The aim was to develop a participatory method for evaluating development activities (at different stages of implementation) that field staff could implement themselves, and that would facilitate the kind of self‐direction and scrutiny of values issues advocated by Amartya Sen's capability approach. The three case studies were of women's income generation activities in Pakistan: loans for goat‐rearing, involving the local NGO the Rural Women's Welfare Organization; adult literacy and community development—the Khoj literacy activity project; and rose cultivation, involving the Marvi Women's Organization in the village of Arabsolangi, Sindh.
Sabina Alkire
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- April 2004
- ISBN:
- 9780199245796
- eISBN:
- 9780191600838
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199245797.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
The author examines how Amartya Sen's capability approach can be coherently—and practically—put to work in participatory poverty reduction activities so that the voices and values of the poor matter. ...
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The author examines how Amartya Sen's capability approach can be coherently—and practically—put to work in participatory poverty reduction activities so that the voices and values of the poor matter. Sen argues that economic development should expand ‘valuable’ capabilities; the author probes how what is valuable can be identified. Sen deliberately left the capability approach ‘incomplete’ in order to ensure its relevance to persons and cultures with different understandings of the good. The book has an introductory chapter, followed by 2 parts, and a brief appendix that looks at some of Sen's formalized relationships and proposes various amendments to these. Part I (4 chapters) proposes a framework for identifying valuable capabilities that retains this ‘fundamental’ incompleteness and space for individual and cultural diversity. It draws Sen's work into discussion with a number of authors and critics, especially John Finnis, in order to suggest a possible way in which the value issues may be addressed coherently, and the methodological implications worked out in a participatory manner. The author addresses foundational issues regarding the identification and pursuit of valuable dimensions of human development based in practical reason, then observes that much of the criticism of development arises from negative impacts on social or cultural/religious dimensions that are also deeply valued by the poor. Part I closes with a four‐part ‘operational definition’ of basic capability that bridges ‘basic needs’, participation, and informed consent. Part II (2 chapters) critically discusses one narrow set of methodologies (those of micro‐project evaluation) and suggests a tool for improving the evaluation of participatory projects that are consistent with the tenets of reason advanced in Part I—an alternative participatory method for systematically identifying valued changes in participants’ capability sets. Three case studies of women's income generation activities in Pakistan—goat‐rearing, adult literacy, and rose cultivation—contrast economic cost‐benefit analysis of each activity with capability analysis.Less
The author examines how Amartya Sen's capability approach can be coherently—and practically—put to work in participatory poverty reduction activities so that the voices and values of the poor matter. Sen argues that economic development should expand ‘valuable’ capabilities; the author probes how what is valuable can be identified. Sen deliberately left the capability approach ‘incomplete’ in order to ensure its relevance to persons and cultures with different understandings of the good. The book has an introductory chapter, followed by 2 parts, and a brief appendix that looks at some of Sen's formalized relationships and proposes various amendments to these. Part I (4 chapters) proposes a framework for identifying valuable capabilities that retains this ‘fundamental’ incompleteness and space for individual and cultural diversity. It draws Sen's work into discussion with a number of authors and critics, especially John Finnis, in order to suggest a possible way in which the value issues may be addressed coherently, and the methodological implications worked out in a participatory manner. The author addresses foundational issues regarding the identification and pursuit of valuable dimensions of human development based in practical reason, then observes that much of the criticism of development arises from negative impacts on social or cultural/religious dimensions that are also deeply valued by the poor. Part I closes with a four‐part ‘operational definition’ of basic capability that bridges ‘basic needs’, participation, and informed consent. Part II (2 chapters) critically discusses one narrow set of methodologies (those of micro‐project evaluation) and suggests a tool for improving the evaluation of participatory projects that are consistent with the tenets of reason advanced in Part I—an alternative participatory method for systematically identifying valued changes in participants’ capability sets. Three case studies of women's income generation activities in Pakistan—goat‐rearing, adult literacy, and rose cultivation—contrast economic cost‐benefit analysis of each activity with capability analysis.
Julia Brannen
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- May 2020
- ISBN:
- 9781529208566
- eISBN:
- 9781529208610
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781529208566.003.0006
- Subject:
- Sociology, Social Research and Statistics
This chapter studies children and young people in families. Throughout most of the twentieth century, psychology and its associated field of child development were lead disciplines in the study of ...
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This chapter studies children and young people in families. Throughout most of the twentieth century, psychology and its associated field of child development were lead disciplines in the study of children and childhood, just as psychology led the way in youth studies. In the 1980s and early 1990s, interest in childhood as a field of study was already firmly established among Scandinavian and US social scientists; the UK was a relative latecomer to the field. These social scientists afforded children ‘conceptual autonomy’, identified children as a distinct group in society, and viewed childhood as socially constructed. They considered children as social actors within a diversity of social contexts, not only as family members. The approach of Danish researcher Jens Qvortrup and his colleagues was path breaking. It drew attention to three social processes shaping children's lives: institutionalisation, familialisation, and individualisation. The chapter then considers the use of participatory research methods in childhood research.Less
This chapter studies children and young people in families. Throughout most of the twentieth century, psychology and its associated field of child development were lead disciplines in the study of children and childhood, just as psychology led the way in youth studies. In the 1980s and early 1990s, interest in childhood as a field of study was already firmly established among Scandinavian and US social scientists; the UK was a relative latecomer to the field. These social scientists afforded children ‘conceptual autonomy’, identified children as a distinct group in society, and viewed childhood as socially constructed. They considered children as social actors within a diversity of social contexts, not only as family members. The approach of Danish researcher Jens Qvortrup and his colleagues was path breaking. It drew attention to three social processes shaping children's lives: institutionalisation, familialisation, and individualisation. The chapter then considers the use of participatory research methods in childhood research.
Nicola Mai
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- May 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780226584959
- eISBN:
- 9780226585147
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226585147.001.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Gender and Sexuality
The book draws on unique and original research on the experiences of women, men, transgender people, minors and third party agents working in the sex industry in a variety of settings and jobs in the ...
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The book draws on unique and original research on the experiences of women, men, transgender people, minors and third party agents working in the sex industry in a variety of settings and jobs in the European Union, the Balkans and North Africa. Mobile Orientations addresses a critical issue within the transformation of global societies: the relation between the increase in migration flows, the expansion of the sex industry and the emergence of new forms of agency and exploitation. Moral panics about migrant ‘sex slaves’ being exploited in the global sex industry obfuscate the reality that only a minority is actually trafficked. The original research evidence analysed in Mobile Orientations counters the scenario of hegemonic exploitation presented by such moral panics. It shows that by migrating and working in the global sex industry, young women and men find opportunities to counter the increased precariousness and exploitability they meet in neoliberal times. The book’s autoethnographic writing style expresses the main theoretical contribution Mobile Orientations aims to make: to provide a nuanced and emic analysis of the complex understandings of agency and exploitation of migrants working in the global sex industry. The discussion of the methodological and expressive opportunities (and challenges) offered by ethnography and participatory filmmaking is integral part of the argument made by Mobile Orientations, which ultimately challenges the criteria of scientific and documentary authenticity and the forms of social exclusion engendered by the convergence between sexual humanitarianism and neoliberalism.Less
The book draws on unique and original research on the experiences of women, men, transgender people, minors and third party agents working in the sex industry in a variety of settings and jobs in the European Union, the Balkans and North Africa. Mobile Orientations addresses a critical issue within the transformation of global societies: the relation between the increase in migration flows, the expansion of the sex industry and the emergence of new forms of agency and exploitation. Moral panics about migrant ‘sex slaves’ being exploited in the global sex industry obfuscate the reality that only a minority is actually trafficked. The original research evidence analysed in Mobile Orientations counters the scenario of hegemonic exploitation presented by such moral panics. It shows that by migrating and working in the global sex industry, young women and men find opportunities to counter the increased precariousness and exploitability they meet in neoliberal times. The book’s autoethnographic writing style expresses the main theoretical contribution Mobile Orientations aims to make: to provide a nuanced and emic analysis of the complex understandings of agency and exploitation of migrants working in the global sex industry. The discussion of the methodological and expressive opportunities (and challenges) offered by ethnography and participatory filmmaking is integral part of the argument made by Mobile Orientations, which ultimately challenges the criteria of scientific and documentary authenticity and the forms of social exclusion engendered by the convergence between sexual humanitarianism and neoliberalism.
Alexander Betts, Louise Bloom, Josiah Kaplan, and Josiah Naohiko
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- December 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780198795681
- eISBN:
- 9780191836985
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198795681.003.0004
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Public and Welfare
This chapter outlines the mixed-methods methodology used in the research in Uganda. It explains the original features of the research design in order to enable others to understand, adapt, and ...
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This chapter outlines the mixed-methods methodology used in the research in Uganda. It explains the original features of the research design in order to enable others to understand, adapt, and replicate this approach. The work in Uganda had a number of defining features. First, it established a sound contextual understanding of the research area, sequentially undertaking both qualitative and quantitative research, beginning with semi-structured interviews, focus groups, transect walks, and participant and non-participant observation. Second, on the basis of this in-depth understanding, a survey across the selected sites was designed and implemented based on original sampling methods, which resulted in an unprecedented dataset of over 2000 respondents. A key feature was the use of participatory research methods: the research team that was built and trained included peer researchers and enumerators from within the refugee communities. The chapter reflects on these methods and their strengths and weaknesses.Less
This chapter outlines the mixed-methods methodology used in the research in Uganda. It explains the original features of the research design in order to enable others to understand, adapt, and replicate this approach. The work in Uganda had a number of defining features. First, it established a sound contextual understanding of the research area, sequentially undertaking both qualitative and quantitative research, beginning with semi-structured interviews, focus groups, transect walks, and participant and non-participant observation. Second, on the basis of this in-depth understanding, a survey across the selected sites was designed and implemented based on original sampling methods, which resulted in an unprecedented dataset of over 2000 respondents. A key feature was the use of participatory research methods: the research team that was built and trained included peer researchers and enumerators from within the refugee communities. The chapter reflects on these methods and their strengths and weaknesses.
Marian Barnes and Phil Cotterell
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9781847427519
- eISBN:
- 9781447305590
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781847427519.003.0023
- Subject:
- Social Work, Research and Evaluation
The conclusion of the book moves from consideration of specific examples of involvement to reflect on the extent to which such developments as a whole can be considered to have led to a ...
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The conclusion of the book moves from consideration of specific examples of involvement to reflect on the extent to which such developments as a whole can be considered to have led to a transformation in policy and services, and to have contributed to the achievement of social justice for those who use health and social care services. It suggests what we have learnt that might contribute to the positive realisation of aspirations for such practices. This chapter approaches this topic from rather different perspectives; from a position as a health practitioner then researcher committed to participatory methods; the other as a social scientist who has both studied user involvement and user movements, and been an ally of user and carer group and involvement initiatives. The chapter reflects on how these different perspectives influence thinking about this topic and considers the value of critical engagement between academics, practitioners and service users as a means of developing both practice and understanding.Less
The conclusion of the book moves from consideration of specific examples of involvement to reflect on the extent to which such developments as a whole can be considered to have led to a transformation in policy and services, and to have contributed to the achievement of social justice for those who use health and social care services. It suggests what we have learnt that might contribute to the positive realisation of aspirations for such practices. This chapter approaches this topic from rather different perspectives; from a position as a health practitioner then researcher committed to participatory methods; the other as a social scientist who has both studied user involvement and user movements, and been an ally of user and carer group and involvement initiatives. The chapter reflects on how these different perspectives influence thinking about this topic and considers the value of critical engagement between academics, practitioners and service users as a means of developing both practice and understanding.
Nicki Ward
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- January 2013
- ISBN:
- 9781847428608
- eISBN:
- 9781447307655
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781847428608.003.0009
- Subject:
- Sociology, Social Research and Statistics
Ward looks at changing family structures in modern society, in this case Britain, and asks the theoretical questions: how might turning points help public-private analyses?; what constitutes a ...
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Ward looks at changing family structures in modern society, in this case Britain, and asks the theoretical questions: how might turning points help public-private analyses?; what constitutes a turning point?; who has the right to define turning points? Ward takes a material discursive approach, and applies it to the biographic-narrative participatory method. A life story interview and a stage two analytic interview were conducted with nine women between the ages of 26 and 49 who identify as lesbian. Aiming to ascertain respondents’ starting points, Ward examines the narratives of lesbians in terms of their imagined life course trajectories, experienced contradictions, and their agentic responses. While she argues that turning points provide a useful focus of analysis in research that seeks to explore the interaction between public and private discourses and identity, she also contends that we need to consider ethically whether scholars, in contrast to participants, have the right to define turning points.Less
Ward looks at changing family structures in modern society, in this case Britain, and asks the theoretical questions: how might turning points help public-private analyses?; what constitutes a turning point?; who has the right to define turning points? Ward takes a material discursive approach, and applies it to the biographic-narrative participatory method. A life story interview and a stage two analytic interview were conducted with nine women between the ages of 26 and 49 who identify as lesbian. Aiming to ascertain respondents’ starting points, Ward examines the narratives of lesbians in terms of their imagined life course trajectories, experienced contradictions, and their agentic responses. While she argues that turning points provide a useful focus of analysis in research that seeks to explore the interaction between public and private discourses and identity, she also contends that we need to consider ethically whether scholars, in contrast to participants, have the right to define turning points.
Claire Snell-Rood
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- September 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780520284807
- eISBN:
- 9780520960503
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520284807.003.0005
- Subject:
- Anthropology, Asian Cultural Anthropology
The conclusion offers suggestions for incorporating the research conclusions into policy and future study. The book’s findings on community relationships suggest that women’s cooperatives, a ...
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The conclusion offers suggestions for incorporating the research conclusions into policy and future study. The book’s findings on community relationships suggest that women’s cooperatives, a development practice for empowerment, and problem solving in low-income international communities must account for the potential for abuse within these relationships. Community-based participatory methods, frequently utilized in public health and celebrated in anthropology, should be adapted for populations that, despite shared poverty and health risks, are highly fragmented. Healthcare policy could build on the health-seeking strategies commonly employed by women in slums. Finally, several methodological recommendations and future research directions are offered.Less
The conclusion offers suggestions for incorporating the research conclusions into policy and future study. The book’s findings on community relationships suggest that women’s cooperatives, a development practice for empowerment, and problem solving in low-income international communities must account for the potential for abuse within these relationships. Community-based participatory methods, frequently utilized in public health and celebrated in anthropology, should be adapted for populations that, despite shared poverty and health risks, are highly fragmented. Healthcare policy could build on the health-seeking strategies commonly employed by women in slums. Finally, several methodological recommendations and future research directions are offered.