Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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Other sub-questions that could also be addressed in a longer or differ-
ently focused study are: How is collection affecting coral populations?
(Chapter 2); How might collection levels and practices change in the next
few years, with what effect? (Chapters 4 & 5); What institutional changes
would help improve the sustainability of local construction practices?
(Chapter 6). All four questions would need to be addressed in order to
answer the overarching question fully.
3. Define the detailed questions that you will collect data to answer.
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Do households differ in their use of coral?
And if so, what factors predict a household's consumption and production
of coral?
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What are the social factors influencing coral use?
What preferences do people have for using different construction prod-
ucts, wild, cultivated and manufactured?
How does coral collection compare to other available occupations?
What is the cultural and social significance of coral as a construction
material?
How do local people view the conservation and management of coral
reefs?
4. Prepare a work plan for answering these questions. Make sure all data collected
will contribute towards answering your questions (no superfluous data) and
that all questions are addressed by the data collected (no missing information).
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Establish contact with collaborators and local counterparts.
Prepare fieldwork risk assessment and timetable.
Obtain permissions from all relevant authorities, including the com-
munity head.
Hire and train local research assistants. These will ideally be from the
same area and ethnic group as the study community, but not from the com-
munity itself, giving a balance between local understanding and objectivity.
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Pilot methods with key informants, such as local counterparts.
Do PRA exercises with groups of informants: community timeline,
livelihood matrix, seasonal activity calendar, community mapping, status
of and attitudes to coral reef resources.
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Carry out wealth ranking focus group discussions.
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Pilot household surveys and revise as necessary.
Select sample for the household survey, based on the wealth ranking exer-
cise and community map.
Carry out household survey, collecting information on: household com-
position, main livelihood activities (both on and off the reef ), seasonality of
activities, asset ownership, typical use of coral materials, most recent
instance of use, typical production of coral materials, most recent instance
of production, preferences for construction materials.
Carry out attitude survey with individuals: their knowledge of the
current and past status of the reef and changes in use against the community
timeline, their views on conservation and management of the reef.
