Abstract
In this paper, I address a gap in the literature on environmental social science by providing a basic rubric for the conduct of empirical research in this interdisciplinary field. Current literature displays a healthy diversity of methods and techniques, but this has also been accompanied by a lack of consistency in the way in which research in this area is done. In part this can be seen as resulting from a lack in supporting texts that would provide a basis for this consistency. Although relevant methods texts do exist, these are not written with this type of research explicitly in mind, and so translating them to this field can be awkward. This paper is designed to fill this gap and enable more consistency in the conduct of empirical environmental social science. Basic types of research designs and methods are covered, as are criteria for evaluating these methods.
Highlights
This research project examines a set of community-based irrigation systems known as acequias in the Taos Valley of New Mexico
The first is that an alternative narrative or story could explain the patterns, or covariations, we find in the data
As mentioned in the introduction, one of the hallmarks of this field is its interdisciplinarity. This is widely accepted as a strength, based on the premise that the complex systems that environmental social science (ESS) scholars analyze require the application of multiple methods to be scientifically understood
Summary
As mentioned in the introduction, one of the hallmarks of this field is its interdisciplinarity This is widely accepted as a strength, based on the premise that the complex systems that ESS scholars analyze require the application of multiple methods to be scientifically understood. I believe that some of the concepts and issues presented here are faced by many if not most ESS scholars Such scholars must decide, for example, how much to emphasize deductive vs inductive approaches in their research and consider the political as well as practical implications of this decision. For example, how much to emphasize deductive vs inductive approaches in their research and consider the political as well as practical implications of this decision They need to consider what scientific values (internal validity, external validity) they strive for in their work, and whether they face trade-offs between these. Responses to this article can be read online at: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/issues/responses. php/7400
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