Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Collect data on explanatory variables during both surveys (such as age,
education, livelihood).
5. If there is an aspect that is of particular interest, and time allows, supplement
basic information with further study. For example:
●
The economics of coral collection. Length, frequency, location and off-
take of collection expeditions; both perceived typical values currently and in
the past, and actual observations. Costs of inputs, price and destination of
outputs.
●
Use picture cards to test recognition of different coral species (including
some not found locally as a check on respondents' ability to discriminate) and
elicit information on their distribution and characteristics. This could be
extended to look at perceived changes in distributions and abundance over
time, e.g. the presence of shifting baselines (Saenz-Arroyo
et al
. 2005).
●
Market structure. Trace the commodity chain from gatherer to user,
including market as well as home use, and obtain details on prices and
throughput along the chain. Monitor price and availability of coral and
their substitutes locally.
●
Investigate the role of coral collection as an activity for lean periods,
for example, when fishing is not possible due to the weather, and thus its
importance in food security of households.
●
Revisit households a number of times, to get short-term recall infor-
mation on activities since the last visit.
●
Collect information on other uses of the reef (such as artisanal fishing)
and potential conflicts between different resource use groups. For example,
is there a perceived or observable negative interaction between livelihood
security of fishers and coral collectors?
6. Analyse data and write up results of the study (shown for data collected
under 4 only).
●
Validity checks. Is there the expected relationship between wealth
rank and asset ownership? Are answers concerning typical production and
consumption congruent with direct observations? Is key informant infor-
mation about seasonality, community history, attitudes congruent with
individual household information? Are the data clean, accurately entered
and producing the expected patterns? Are there any interesting patterns
emerging that deserve investigation?
●
Livelihood comparisons. Composite ranking of livelihood activities
based on the livelihood matrix exercise. What are the perceived benefits and
constraints of coral collection as a livelihood, in comparison with others
available?
●
Statistical analysis of determinants of coral collection. Coral produc-
tion and consumption as functions of factors including wealth rank, season,
household composition.
●
Statistical analysis of preferences for construction materials. Are pref-
erences correlated with availability, price, wealth rank? How does observed
use relate to preferences?
