Participant Observation Research Articles

Local knowledge of Mecula Haroano Laa as social cohesion of agricultural communities in Buton utara district

Mecula Haroano Laa is a local wisdom that includes beliefs, norms, and practices passed down from generation to generation in the context of agricultural resource preservation and community cultural identity formation. The author is interested in investigating the practices of the Mecula Haroano Laa tradition, which is unique to North Buton Regency and has unique specifications and characteristics. This research uses a qualitative approach. The data collection techniques used in this study are in-depth interviews and participatory observations. The results of this study demonstrate that Mecula Haroano Laa in North Buton society is more than just an agricultural custom; it is also an attempt to strengthen social solidarity among community members. This practice reflects the spirit of solidarity, gotong royong together, and respect for the environment. The North Buton community is actively involved in implementing Mecula Haroano Laa as a form of participation in developing sustainable agriculture. This research contributes to understanding the importance of local wisdom in building social cohesion in communities. Research implications include sustainable planning and efforts to empower communities in developing farms in North Buton Regency. Natural resource management policies may incorporate. Mecula Haroano Laa’s effective and sustainable resource management techniques to promote wise use, environmental conservation, economic resilience, and dependency reduction.

Exploring Muslim FIFA Women Referees’ Experiences in the Middle East

This study explores Muslim FIFA women referees’ experiences in the Middle East. A total of nine semi-structured interviews, including referees, referee assessors, an administrator from the region, and participant observation were conducted. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, the findings were as follows: First, this study found that for Muslim FIFA women referees, there are inadequate learning and training opportunities. Second, unsatisfactory Member Association support of women match officials were drawn out. Third, this study found that women referees experience significant pressure to be married to benefit from family assistance. Single referees who get married often face the potential pressure of having to quit refereeing if their families do not support them. In both cases, family support of women referees is critical.

Advancing Thai Agriculture: Strategic Proposals for a Young Smart Farmer in Thailand

The study "Advancing Thai Agriculture: Strategic Proposals for a Young Smart Farmer in Thailand" addresses the critical role of agriculture in Thailand's economy and the challenges it faces, such as climate change, water scarcity, and market volatility. It emphasizes the importance of young smart farmers and innovative solutions like smart farming technologies, sustainable practices, and educational programs to ensure the sector's future sustainability and productivity. The research employs qualitative methods, including interviews and participant observations, to gather data on governmental policies and the preparedness of the next generation of farmers. The findings suggest a need for strategic planning and stakeholder engagement to foster a new generation of knowledgeable, technologically adept farmers. This effort aligns with national strategies to transform Thailand into a knowledge-driven economy, emphasizing sustainable and efficient agricultural practices.

Implementasi Pojok Literasi Sebagai Strategi Penigkatan Literasi Siswa di Lingkungan SDN 1 Tongka Kalimantan Tengah

This community service program was implemented to address the low literacy levels among students in remote areas of Central Kalimantan, specifically at SDN 1 Tongka, Gunung Timang District, North Barito Regency. The main objective of the program was to implement a literacy corner as a strategy to improve student literacy and create a sustainable literacy ecosystem in the school environment. The method used included participatory and adaptive approaches, applying the concept of a "mobile literacy corner" adapted to the limitations of local space and resources. The program was carried out over 45 days, covering preparation, implementation, and evaluation phases. The results showed a significant increase in students' reading interest, with a 68% rise in the frequency of visits to the literacy corner. Pre-test and post-test evaluations indicated an average increase in students' literacy skills of 27%, particularly in reading comprehension and vocabulary mastery. Participatory observation revealed the formation of a stronger literacy culture in the school environment, characterized by student-initiated literacy discussions and increased use of references in academic tasks. The program also successfully developed an adaptive and contextual model for implementing literacy corners, which has the potential to be replicated in other remote areas of Indonesia.

This Is the Sacrifice: Language, Ideology and Religious Identity Performance in Erei Personal Names

This paper examines personal names derived from traditional religious beliefs and practices among the Erei people in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State in South-South, Nigeria while utilising insights from the multidisciplinary inferences of socio-onomastic theory to account for the cultural, social and situational contexts that create the religious content of the names. Data were obtained by means of participant observation and semi-structured interviews during six months of fieldwork involving 40 participants who were the name-givers, name-bearers and name-users. Our findings highlight the socio-onomastic tradition of Erei people in which personal names are bestowed through a conscious application of symbolic linguistic resources to express and perform ideologies and identities that are rooted in the traditional religion’s foundations and sociocultural practices that represent Erei people’s indigenous beliefs system and spiritual worldview. Focused on the ideals of African traditional religion, religious identities are constructed through the use of personal names related to idol worship, the mysteries of death, reincarnation and commemoration, cultural festivals and performances, symbolic objects, familial rankings and other aspects derived from their environment that also bear traditional religious significance. And because this set of personal names is now predominant among the ageing population and is losing contemporaneity due to an increasing subpopulation with a new (Christian) beliefs system, this study serves to preserve a transiting and endangered Erei socio-onomastic practice that represents the people’s traditional cosmology.

Natural resources used in the traditional medicine of the Marinaú community, Caxiuanã forest, Brazil.

The diversity of Conservation Units in Brazil, ranging from Strict Protection areas like National Parks to Sustainable Use areas such as National Forests, supports the coexistence of human populations with extensive traditional knowledge of local natural resources. This traditional and local knowledge plays a crucial role in their subsistence and has significant potential to contribute to bioprospecting initiatives, as well as to enhance research and strategies for biological conservation. The São Sebastião de Marinaú community, situated within the Caxiuanã National Forest, offers valuable opportunities for ethnobiological studies. The field study was carried out with 48 informants from the São Sebastião de Marinaú Community, Caxiuanã National Forest (CNF), Brazil, a Sustainable Use Conservation Unit. It involved participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and guided tours. Indices of Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), and Consensus Factor (ICF) indicated plant species with therapeutic potential. A total of 944 uses associated with 154 plants and 21 animals were reported. Statistical tests pointed out that factors such as gender and age are not determinants in the richness of known plants among the residents. The plants are distributed among 59 botanical families and 126 genera. They predominantly use species native to Brazil (69%), among which 47 are endemic to the Amazon. The medicines are prepared mainly by decoction of leaves and bark. According to UV, veronica (Dalbergia monetaria L.f.) was the most important. The animals used are all vertebrates, and paca (Cuniculus paca Linnaeus, 1766,) was the most cited. Bile and lard are the parts most used in the recipes. They mentioned 116 diseases, especially those of the digestive system. The ceruzeiro (Allantoma lineata (Mart. ex O.Berg) Miers) had a high consensus of local use, and no additional studies on this species exist. This study underscores the vital role of traditional communities in sustainable conservation units, as their involvement is crucial for preserving plant and animal species essential to local traditional medicine. Such research also promotes the recognition of non-timber products as valuable raw materials with potential applications in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, mapping the occurrence and use of species in vulnerable conditions aids in developing effective conservation strategies for these resources.

Indexicality of “Kelian” in Student Microteaching Practice: Anthropolinguistic Study

The indexicality study aims to describe the meaning of the variation of the pronoun “kelian” used by students with Batak ethnic background at University of HKBP Nommensen Medan. This study uses a qualitative method with an anthropolinguistic approach. The data of this research is in the form of oral data obtained from the performance of microteaching practices. Data were obtained from 12 recordings, 12 interviews, and participatory observations. The results of this study found that the indexicality of 'kelian' is a communicative expression that can show markers of the speaker's identity, feelings of affection or concern, and community identity. This study concludes that the indexicality of 'kelian' is used as a marker of identity and relations. These findings can be used as a technique to communicate or express knowledge in learning.

"BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE OUR RIGHTS”: PHYSICAL-SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION WITH CHILDREN FROM MORRO DO PAPAGAIO

Although child participation in decision-making is a recognized right, children are often excluded from decision-making processes that will affect the quality of their lives, including those related to urban issues. In the Brazilian context, there is a lack of studies aimed at understanding child participation in the transformation of public spaces. This study aims to explore the repercussions of a physical-spatial transformation involving children aged 9 to 10 years, residents of the Morro do Papagaio favela (Belo Horizonte, Brazil). To this end, interviews, photo-elicitation, and participant observation were conducted. Inductive thematic analysis of the data revealed the value of physical-spatial transformation as a practice that enables the exercise of children's rights to participation, sociability, play, freedom, education, use of public spaces, beauty and well-being. Identifying how children experience public spaces in the favela became crucial to understanding how transforming spaces with children can promote their citizenship.

Inclusive Education and Social Inequality: An Anthropological Study of Social Mobility and Access to Education

This research investigates the multifaceted relationship between inclusive education and social inequality, focusing on the potential of inclusive educational practices in Europe, with a specific case study in Bulgaria, to promote social mobility for marginalized populations. Grounded in an anthropological framework, the study seeks to understand how structural and cultural barriers impede access to equitable education for marginalized groups, with particular attention to Roma students, one of the most disadvantaged communities in Europe. By examining the educational landscape in Bulgaria, this research delves into the lived experiences of educators, psychologists, and occupational therapists working to implement inclusive education within a system often fraught with discrimination, limited resources, and institutional challenges. The qualitative research, conducted in Sofia from February to April 2024, draws on interviews, participant observation, and focus groups to capture the nuanced challenges and successes of those involved in delivering inclusive education. Findings reveal that despite national policies aimed at promoting inclusion, significant barriers persist, particularly for Roma students, who continue to face segregation, prejudice, and limited educational opportunities. Educators frequently report difficulties in accommodating the diverse needs of students within under-resourced schools, while psychological and cultural biases further hinder effective inclusion. Moreover, the study identifies a critical gap between policy and practice, where inclusive education policies are often poorly implemented due to a lack of cultural competence and institutional support. This gap has direct implications for the social mobility of marginalized students, as education remains a key determinant of their future opportunities. The findings underscore the urgent need for culturally responsive teaching strategies and support systems that are tailored to the unique socio-economic and cultural contexts of marginalized communities. These strategies must go beyond superficial inclusion to actively dismantle the entrenched inequalities that exist within educational institutions. This study emphasizes the pivotal role of inclusive education in addressing social inequality and promoting social mobility. However, it also highlights the significant work that remains to be done to ensure that inclusive education is truly accessible and effective for all, particularly for marginalized groups like the Roma. By proposing a series of culturally sensitive and contextually informed recommendations, the research advocates for a more holistic approach to inclusive education that can better support the academic and social advancement of marginalized students, ultimately fostering greater equity in educational outcomes and social mobility.

Unpacking “Social Vulnerability” and “Equity”: Critical Insights From Stormwater Climate Adaptation Research in the US Gulf Coast

AbstractThis paper assesses how the concepts of social vulnerability and equity are discursively constructed in co‐production research settings with a co‐created decision support tool. The data was collected during workshops (32 communities represented) and interviews (24 communities represented) with stormwater managers and stakeholders (SMS) working in small cities, counties/parishes, and villages and towns within 100 miles of the US Gulf Coast. Findings from participant observation of workshops show that SMS express similar viewpoints regarding indicators of social vulnerability to climate‐related hazards, often defining vulnerable people as less physically mobile or as having few monetary resources. Individuals articulated “community” through a lens of homeownership and often described their relationship to residents as strained. Findings from interviews reveal divergent viewpoints on the imperative and rationale for integrating social vulnerability data into stormwater assessments and planning. Interviews also generated more critical reflection than was present in workshops regarding racial disparities in flood hazard exposure. A key insight from this article is that tools and team composition matter but there is nuance in the degree to which they matter considering a range of contextual factors. The article argues that co‐production teams must plan for alternatives and different scenarios given the messiness of co‐production in practice and that research is needed to reveal the conditions under which specific tools matter for equity in terms of both process and outcomes.

‘We’re all like brothers’: religion’s role in Afghan Uzbek identity formation

ABSTRACT Studies on Muslim self-conception within Central Asia have flourished over the past twenty years in post-Soviet Central Asia as they did in the 1960s and 1970s within Afghanistan. This research provides qualitative data to compare studies on identity formation within Central Asia, particularly among Uzbeks. From 2018–2019, the author interviewed 20 Uzbek speakers and conducted participant observation in a community of Afghan Uzbeks in northern Afghanistan. The study sought to understand how Uzbek-speaking Sunni Afghans negotiate their identity, particularly with regard to the role of religion in that identity formation. This data was analysed using the grounded theory tools of coding, memo-writing and theory development. The study found that religion played a role in defining identity and ethnicity by reinforcing their membership in the collective identity of the nation of Afghanistan. It also indicated the importance of foreign association in formulating diverse expressions of Muslim identity.

Inovasi Kolaboratif Mahasiswa KKN MB Posko 10 UIN Walisongo dalam Pengembangan Taman Kajera di Kelurahan Jatirejo, Kota Semarang

This study aims to measure the impact of Kajera Park development in Jatirejo Village as part of the KKN MB Posko 10 UIN Walisongo program on community welfare and sustainable development. The research method used interviews and participatory observation by KKN students. The results showed that Kajera Park successfully improved environmental quality and served as a center for inclusive socio-economic activities. The Kajera Thematic Village initiative also developed red ginger-based MSME products that significantly improved the local economy. Despite challenges in terms of funds and manpower, student and community collaboration has proven effective in promoting sustainable development. The Kajera Thematic Village model can be used as a reference for other community development programs in Indonesia.

Ethnobotany study on wild edible plants used by the Tujia ethnic group in Laifeng, southwest Hubei, China.

Wild edible plants hold a significant position in the lives of local residents, serving as a primary food source or supplement. Laifeng County, located in the hinterland of the central mountainous area of China, boasts abundant wild edible plant resources. The Tujia people, residing here for generations, have accumulated a wealth of traditional knowledge in the long-term practice of utilizing wild edible plants. The aim of this study is to document and organize the traditional utilization of wild edible plants by the Tujia ethnic group in Laifeng. An ethnobotanical investigation, comprising semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, and participatory observations, was conducted in 26 traditional villages in Laifeng County from May 2023 to June 2024. A total of 252 informants were interviewed, from whom information about wild edible plants, including edible parts, food categories, consumption modes, and multiple uses was collected. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) and the cultural food significance index (CFSI) were calculated to identify the cultural importance of wild edible plants. A total of 163 species of wild edible plants consumed by the Tujia people in Laifeng, belonging to 64 families and 118 genera and related traditional knowledge were collected, including vegetables (78), fruits (52), wine-soaking plants (12), spices (11), food substitutes (9), tea substitutes (6), nuts (5), coagulants (2), and oil (1). The most frequently used families were Rosaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae, with 23, 10, and 10 species, respectively. The most commonly utilized plant parts were fruits, leaves, and stems. RFC and CFSI analyses identified 14 species of wild edible plants with high cultural importance in the local diet, such as Allium macrostemon, Houttuynia cordata, and Hovenia acerba. The Tujia ethnic group in Laifeng demonstrates extensive knowledge in their traditional usage of wild edible plants, offering unique and robust insights into the harvesting, processing, and consumption of these resources. Over time, this practice has become an integral part of the local food culture. These findings contribute to the preservation of the Tujia culture of wild edible plants in Laifeng and the conservation and development of wild edible plant resources.

Community, Socialisation, and Empowerment in Cultural Game Jams with Youth Citizens

This paper examines social and collaborative elements of Cultural Game Jams developed and implemented in the large-scale Europe Horizon research and innovation project, EPIC-WE: Empowered Participation through Ideating Cultural Worlds and Environments (2023-2026). The project explores and develops transdisciplinary collaboration and co-creation across cultural heritage institutions, creative industries, higher education institutions, and youth citizens (ages 16-25) towards Cultural Game Jam interventions across three European sites: Óbidos (Portugal), Hilversum (Netherlands), and Aarhus (Denmark). The Cultural Game Jams are held at cultural heritage sites and are aimed towards value-sensitive game design and youth empowerment. This paper explores Cultural Game Jams as a potential format for enabling and developing youths’ empowered participation, communality, and cultural socialisation by analysing the first Cultural Game Jam (2024). Framed by a Design-Based Research methodology and guided by experimental and short-term ethnography and design experiments, the analyses draw from qualitative empirical material, e.g., interviews, participatory observations, field notes, and the Cultural Game Jam participants' reflective process and design documentation. The analyses illustrate how co-creating games within cultural heritage contexts can develop youth perceptions of community, cultural socialisation processes, and individual/collective empowerment. Furthermore, the paper offers insights into the co-creation of games as new expressions of cultural heritage through epistemic collaboration and cultural participation in game jams while discussing possibilities for enabling new experiences of empowered participation, social learning, and community among youth citizens.

Advanced Gamification and Mega-games to Enhance Lifelong Learning in Higher Education

This study investigates the effects of advanced gamification and Mega-games on student engagement and motivation within a rigorous semester-long course demanding 48 hours of weekly commitment. Conducted from February to June 2022, the research targeted sixth-semester students in Video Game Studies at Tec de Monterrey, with virtual classes for groups in Guadalajara and Querétaro. Using a mixed-method approach, the study employed participatory observation on the OASIS Discord server, incorporating gamification elements. Data collection also involved documentary research, online questionnaires, semi-structured group interviews, and faculty documentation reviews. Findings indicate that the integration of gamification elements effectively heightened student involvement and motivation, with positive feedback on instructor support and course content. However, challenges such as burnout, economic disparities, and varying engagement levels were identified. The study underscores the potential of gamification to enhance educational experiences while highlighting the need for careful management of challenges to prevent negative impacts on student well-being. Future research should focus on the psychological effects of continuous gamification and Mega-games, seeking to balance engagement with mental health considerations. Understanding these dynamics will be crucial for optimizing educational strategies and ensuring their sustainable application in diverse academic settings.

Manajemen Keuangan Sekolah dalam Pemenuhan Sarana Prasarana Pendidikan

Research to analyze and gain insights into the financial management of Public Middle School 22 Sijunjung, West Sumatra, in meeting the educational infrastructure needs. A qualitative approach using phenomenology was employed. Informants included the school principal, secretary, and treasurer. Data collection involved interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis. Data analysis included data condensation, presentation, and conclusion drawing. This study shows that the financial management of the school to meet educational infrastructure needs encompasses school budgeting, budget allocation, financial recording, and financial accountability. This study highlights the importance of financial management in providing educational facilities and infrastructure by involving internal and external stakeholders in the evaluation, analysis, monitoring, and fulfilling various school needs.

‘What we give up to get where we’re going’: compromise in the institutionalizing of youth peace advocacy

ABSTRACT In 2015, the UN Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS), formalizing an agenda for positive youth participation in peace and security. However, youth peace activists have been leading peacebuilding long before this institutional recognition. This article explores the dynamics of how advocates and institutional actors conceptualize and negotiate compromise. To do this, it draws on in-depth interviews with youth and adult YPS advocates, a critical analysis of documents related to the agenda, and extended participant observation. It explores and develops a notion of a field of youth-oriented peacebuilding, drawing on Bourdieu. This makes visible a more complex field of struggle, showing how compromise can help explain how youth actively negotiate their participation in formalized agendas and persist in their own peacebuilding ambitions. It argues for a more nuanced understanding of compromise to understand the affordances and limitations of youth agency and institutional agendas.

Health risks and environmental impacts of domestic wastewater at Adétikopé (Togo, West Africa)

The demographic growth rate of the locality of Adétikopé causes a problem of management of waste water, sanitation, health and especially habitat. The densification of populations in these types of municipalities causes health problems linked to environmental degradation. The objective of this study is to identify the consequences (socio-sanitary and environmental impacts) caused by the poor management of wastewater in the peri-urban municipality of Adétikopé and to propose solutions. From August 2022 to July 2023, we undertook a socio-sanitary survey within the households of the commune using semi-structured questionnaires and interviews with health and communal officials. To this was added participant observation in the neighborhoods of the municipality. Thus, the frequencies of malaria and anemia are linked to poor management of water and household waste. Respiratory infections are due to unsanitary housing and air pollution. The populations of these generally deprived neighborhoods have little information on the relationship and the implication of the state of the environment on their health problems so that they are not very interested in the man-agement of their living environment. The recommended solutions in-clude, among other things, the use of impregnated mosquito nets and the use of hygiene and sanitary techniques.

Exploring elementary school student's understanding and experience of pancasila values in using the tiktok application: a qualitative study

This research aims to explore elementary school students' understanding and experience of Pancasila values in using the TikTok application. The background to this research focuses on the increasingly dominant influence of social media in children's lives and the need to understand how Pancasila values are internalized in the digital era. The research method used is a qualitative approach with data collection techniques in the form of in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), and participatory observation. Participants in this study consisted of 30 students in grades 4 to 6 from three elementary schools in Indonesia, as well as their parents and teachers. The research results show that students have a theoretical understanding of Pancasila values, but their application in using TikTok is still limited. Students are more likely to be exposed to entertainment content than educational content that reflects Pancasila values. Parents and teachers play an important role in supervising and guiding students' use of TikTok. However, further efforts are needed to bridge the gap between understanding and practicing Pancasila values on social media. The conclusions of this research emphasize the importance of a holistic approach in teaching Pancasila values, by using social media wisely. Social Learning Theory highlights the importance of observation, imitation, and self-efficacy in this learning process. With collaboration between educators, parents and content creators, TikTok can be used as an effective tool to educate and internalize Pancasila values in students.

Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in the mountainous regions of Semnan Province, Iran

In mountainous areas, wild edible plants are an important part of the local diet. Climate change and anthropogenic activities have profound effects on wild edible plants in these areas. Ethnobotanical studies are important for understanding the use patterns and harvest impacts on these plants. In this regard, the Shahrood region, with its diverse historical/ethnic background, is an appropriate starting point to investigate exploitation patterns and impacts of harvest of wild edible plants. During 2021–2022, ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in 12 villages in the region using semi-structured interviews and participatory observations. Data collection included assessing wild edible plant species diversity, their habitats, collection time and quantities, plant parts used and methods of consumption and preparation. The data were analyzed using use report indicators, relative frequency of citations, and use value (UV). A total of 1086 use reports were documented from a total of 44 interviews. A total of 67 wild species (66 plants and 1 fungus) belonging to 54 genera and 24 families were used as edible in the study area. Rosaceae (9 species), Apiaceae (8), Lamiaceae (8), Asteraceae (7), and Amaryllidaceae (5) were the families with the most reported species. Allium (5 species) was the most diverse genus in terms of species diversity. Herbs were the most commonly used life form (79.1%), followed by shrubs (13.4%) and trees (6%). The most consumed plant parts were young leaves (25%) and young aerial parts (21.4%). There were 13 use categories identified. The majority of edible plants were collected in April–May, mainly from areas nearby villages (37.7%) and rangelands (33.7%). The most important edible plants in the study area were Allium iranicum (Wendelbo) Wendelbo (UV = 1.7), Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. (1.5), Allium umbilicatum Boiss. (1.47), Tragopogon graminifolius DC. (1.38), Lepidium draba L. (1.27), Urtica dioica L. (1.18), Falcaria vulgaris Bernh. (1.13), Malva neglecta Wallr. (1.11) and Eremurus sp. (1.09). Our results showed diverse and valuable knowledge for wild edible plants in this region, which should be considered in the conservation and management plans in the region.