Jayne Glass Knowledge Coproduction Seminar July 2011

How can we create more effective ‘spaces’ for knowledge co-production? Jayne Glass 13 July 2011 [email_address] THE POWER OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Outline
How can we tackle ‘wicked’ problems?
Increase transdisciplinary capacity
Facilitate knowledge integration
Enhance potential for social learning
Road map for a powerful research ‘space’
Reading the map: using the Delphi technique
The method in action
An intermediary role for researchers?

Before we dive in… For example, Scott (2011); Reed (2008) Participation = ?

Tackling ‘wicked’ problems “ a problem of interaction” (van Bueren et al. 2003)

Transdisciplinary research approaches Based on Mobjörk (2010); Rist et al. (2007) Research Transdisciplinary Situated in the ‘real world’ Building bridges between knowledges An overall social learning process

1. Increasing transdisciplinary capacity Based on Gibbons et al. (1994) GAP: Defined ‘spaces’ for open communication
Scientific knowledge
Produced by communities of academic scientists
Operates in a space autonomous from social interests and goals
Mode 1
Heterogeneous knowledge production sites
Close interactions between scientific, technological and industrial actors
Flexible and open forms of research
Continuous re-evaluation and redefinition of expertise
Mode 2

2. The knowledge integration challenge Pohl et al (2010): Researchers’ roles in knowledge co-production GAP: Action-oriented research in the agora? Academic knowledge Non-academic knowledge AGORA Agora Academic knowledge Non-academic knowledge BO Bridging organisation Co-production of knowledge

3. Potential for social learning Reed et al (2010): What is social learning? DEMONSTRATE THAT: Some depth of conceptual change or change in understanding has take place in the individuals involved A degree of breadth for this change to go beyond individuals to become situated within wider social groups Occurred through social interactions and processes between actors within a social network GAP: Create better atmospheres for communication and deliberation SOCIAL LEARNING

A conceptual road map Glass (2011): PhD thesis Flexible research space, within which it is possible to facilitate iterative deliberation, learning and the collaborative production of knowledge A: Increase transdisciplinary capacity A1: Address ‘real world’ problems collaboratively and acknowledge the local context A2: Develop practical outcomes that bring about a degree of change B: Facilitate knowledge integration B1: Integrate multiple perspectives B2: Recognise and understand values C: Enhance potential for social learning C1: Create an ‘atmosphere of trust’ C2: Rethink assumptions and jointly solve problems A collaborative learning process which produces mutually endorsed, practical outcomes for positive change Iterative deliberation

Reading the map: using the Delphi technique

The Delphi technique Conventional Delphi: driving towards consensus
Decision-making tool or ‘what should be’
Series of written questionnaires
Participants driven towards consensus through feedback
Often quantitative convergence methods
See, for example: Kuo et al. (2005); Tolley et al. (2001)

The Delphi technique Turoff (2002): The Policy Delphi Policy Delphi: exploring complexity
Dependable group opinion
Exploring complex policy issues
Less focus on consensus
More qualitative approach
1. Formulating the issues 2. Exposing the options 3. Determining initial positions on the issues 4. Exploring the reasons for disagreements 5. Evaluating the underlying reasons 6. Re-evaluation

The Delphi technique Glass et al. (submitted) Methodological challenges
High drop-out rates
Selection of panel members (expert bias)
Panel size
Constraining panellists’ creativity
Q: How can we use the road map to address these issues and refine the method?

Refining the method Using the road map A1: Address a real world problem collaboratively & acknowledge local context A: Increasing transdisciplinary capacity A2: Develop practical outcomes for positive change Initial scoping round in interview format: process not overly defined Move beyond conceptual discussion to produce something

Refining the method Using the road map B1: Integrate multiple perspectives B: Facilitate knowledge integration B2: Recognise and understand values Widen definition of an ‘expert’: include local, managerial knowledge Spend more time at outset exploring perceptions of the issue: researcher ‘reframes’ ideas and presents to group

Refining the method Using the road map C1: Create an ‘atmosphere of trust’ C: Enhance potential for social learning C2: Rethink assumptions and jointly solve problems Anonymous process; personal rapport with researcher Reflexive process: enhance creative potential through feedback documents

The method in action ? ? ? ? ? ?

A mixed panel of interests 19 panellists Estate management professionals Academics & consultants NGOs & other interest groups Government agencies & other bodies Representative bodies Land Agents Landowners Estate managers LINK RICS SLE SAC Relu programme Consultants International Scottish Government DCS Sustainable Development Commission CNPA RSPB NTS JMT Moorland Forum Southern Uplands Partnership SNH SEBG

A deliberative process Round One: Establishing a context for sustainability Round Two: Discussing practical management strategies Round Three: Reflecting on the first draft Glass et al. (2011) Compiling and feeding back ideas Redrafting and piloting the workbook Developing second draft Developing first draft Round Four: Reflecting on the second draft

A practical output ‘ Getting the best from Scotland’s estates: twelve actions’ – A sustainability workbook Ecosystem thinking Broadening options Linking into social fabric Adapting management Thinking beyond the estate Sustainable estate principles [5] SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS [12] More sustainable Less sustainable ! Enabling factors Constraining factors Identify and understand Proactive Underactive Active

High levels of motivation 88% response rate over three written rounds Responses received on/before deadline Responses received after the deadline Round Two 9 7 Round Three 6 11 Round Four 12 5

Reactions to the process “ Much more fun than the boring work I should have been doing this evening!” “ I’ve enjoyed this; I think you have the makings of an extremely valuable tool” “ A good basis [that] should be worked on in practice on real estates” “ Very stimulating for our thinking”

Reflecting on the map: did I create an effective ‘space’ for knowledge co-production?

Increased transdisciplinary capacity?
Equal ownership
Exploring perceptions
Based on participants’ experience
Moving from concepts to practicalities
High levels of motivation
‘ Producing something’
A: Increase transdisciplinary capacity A1: Address ‘real world’ problems collaboratively and acknowledge the local context A2: Develop practical outcomes that bring about a degree of change

Integrated knowledge?
New network of collaboration
Creating new knowledge
Time at the outset to explore views
Anonymity
B: Facilitate knowledge integration B1: Integrate multiple perspectives B2: Recognise and understand values

Enhanced social learning?
Anonymous forum
Open negotiation and dialogue
Iteration
Slow development of ideas
Considering all views, rather than ‘positions’
C: Enhance potential for social learning C1: Create an ‘atmosphere of trust’ C2: Rethink assumptions and jointly solve problems

A conceptual roadmap Glass (2011): PhD thesis Iterative deliberation

A conceptual roadmap Glass (2011): PhD thesis Can I use this roadmap to design or adapt my own methods?

Finally: an intermediary role for researchers? Academic knowledge Non-academic knowledge AGORA Can we position ourselves here?

Thank you Thank you to Micah Stanbridge for the use of his photographs [email_address] Acknowledgements The Henry Angest Foundation Project supervisors: Prof Martin Price ( UHI) Prof Alister Scott ( Birmingham City University ) Dr Charles Warren ( University of St Andrews ) The Sustainable Estates Advisory Group:

References I
Glass, J.H., Scott, A.S. and Price, M.F. (2011). Developing a sustainability assessment tool for upland estates. In: S.J. Marrs, S. Foster, C. Hendrie, E.C. Mackey, and D.B.A. Thompson (eds.) The Changing Nature of Scotland . The Stationery Office, Edinburgh, pp. 425-429.
Glass, J.H., Scott, A.S. and Price, M.F. (submitted). The power of the process: adapting the Delphi technique for applied sustainability research. Please contact Jayne for a copy of the submitted manuscript.
Kenyon, W., Hill, G. and Shannon, P. (2008). Scoping the role of agriculture in sustainable flood management. Land Use Policy , 25, 351-360.
Kuo, N.-W., Hsiao, T.-Y. and Yu, Y.-H. (2005). A Delphi-matrix approach to SEA and its application within the tourism sector in Taiwan. Environmental Impact Assessment , 25, 259-280.
McCrum G., Blackstock, K., Matthews, K., Rivington, M., Miller, D. and Buchan, K. (2009). Adapting to Climate Change in Land Management: the Role of Deliberative Workshops in Enhancing Social Learning. Environmental Policy and Governance , 19, 413-426.
Mobjörk, M., 2010. Consulting versus Participatory Transdisciplinarity: A refined classification of transdisciplinary research. Futures, 42(8) 866-873.
Pohl, C., Rist, S., Zimmerman, A., Fry, P., Gurung, G.S., Schneider, F., Ifejika Speranza, C., Kiteme, B., Boillat, S., Serrano, E., Hirsch Hadorn, G. and Wiesmann, U. (2010). Researchers’ roles in knowledge co-production: experience from sustainability research in Kenya, Switzerland, Bolivia and Nepal. Science and Public Policy , 37(4), 267-281.

References II
Reed, M.S. (2008). Stakeholder participation for environmental management: A literature review. Biological Conservation , 141, 2417-2431.
Reed, M.S., Evely, A.C., Cundill, G., Fazey, I., Glass, J.H., Laing, A., Newig, J., Parrish, B., Prell, C., Raymond, C. and Stringer, L.C. (2010). What is social learning? Ecology and Society , 15(4), 1.
Rist, S., Chidambaranathan, M., Escobar, C., Wiesmann, U. and Zimmermann, A. (2007). Moving from sustainable management to sustainable governance of natural resources: The role of social learning process in rural India, Bolivia and Mali. Journal of Rural Studies , 23(1), 23-37.
Scott, A.J. (2011). Focussing in on focus groups: Effective participative tools or cheap fixes for land use policy? Land Use Policy , 28(4), 684-694.
Tolley, R., Lumsdon, L. and Bickerstaff, K. (2001). The future of walking in Europe: a project to identify expert opinion on future walking scenarios. Transport Policy 8, 307-315.
Turoff, M. (2002). The Policy Delphi. In: H.A. Linstone and M. Turoff, eds. The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA. Available online from: http://www.is.njit.edu/pubs/delphibook/.

Jayne Glass Knowledge Coproduction Seminar July 2011

by Jayne Glass on Jul 13, 2011

Accessibility

Categories

Tags

Upload Details

Usage Rights

Statistics

Jayne Glass Knowledge Coproduction Seminar July 2011 — Presentation Transcript