Participatory Techniques Research Articles

Doing flood risk modelling differently: Evaluating the potential for participatory techniques to broaden flood risk management decision‐making

AbstractResponsibility for flood risk management (FRM) is increasingly being devolved to a wider set of stakeholders, and effective participation by multiple FRM agencies and communities at risk calls for engagement approaches that supplement and make the best possible use of hydrologic and hydraulic flood modelling. Stakeholder engagement must strike a considered balance between participation ideals and the pragmatic realities of existing mechanisms for FRM decision‐making. This article evaluates the potential for using participatory modelling to facilitate engagement and co‐production of knowledge by FRM modellers, practitioners and other stakeholders. Participatory modelling offers an approach that is flexible and versatile, yet sufficiently structured that it can support meaningful representation of scientific, empirical and local knowledges in producing outcomes that can readily be integrated into existing procedures for shared decision‐making. This article frames the qualities of participatory modelling useful to FRM, as being accessible, transparent, adaptable, evaluative and holistic. These qualities are used as criteria with which to assess the practical utility of three popular participatory techniques: Bayesian networks, system dynamics and fuzzy cognitive mapping. Case studies are used to illustrate how each technique might benefit FRM options appraisal and decision‐making. While each technique has potential, none is ideal, and local contexts will guide selection of which technique is best suited to deliver effective stakeholder participation.

“PRODUKSI DAN PENDAPATAN USAHATANI GETAH KARET (LATEKS) DI DESA BABAYAU KECAMATAN PARINGIN KABUPATEN BALANGAN PROVINSI KALIMANTAN SELATAN”

This research aims to determine the cultivation and cost, income of rubber farmers. The study used a survey method with participatory observation techniques. In its implementation, this activity is for analysis purposes including primary data collection and secondary data. Rubber sap farming income in Babayau Village is currently a fairly serious problem because the income earned by farmers is constantly changing due to various factors, one of which is weather and market conditions. The sampling technique in this study was the purposive sampling method. Rubber farming activities in Babayau Village, Paringin District, Balangan Regency have technically been running effectively and efficiently from the stages of land clearing, planting, fertilizing, maintaining, and tapping processes. The total production is 73,221 kg for Rp. 7,000, - / kg. The average production is 2,929 / kg perpetual with average revenue of Rp. 20,501,880, per farmer. With an average income of Rp. 20,501,880 per farmer and an average explicit cost of Rp. 267,675.0 per farmer, the average income is Rp. 20,234,205,04, -per farmer

Learn from the past and act for the future: A holistic and participative approach for improving occupational health and safety in industry

The European working population is significantly ageing. This trend is expected to increase in the next years. In this context, occupational health and safety strategies need to evolve, developing return-to-work procedures and workplace modifications to avoid long-term sickness absence and early retirement. Safety management strategies should consider age related factors, so that every worker, regardless of age, feels safe and committed to reach personal and corporate goals.This study proposes a holistic approach based on a participatory methodology to identify the causes of workplace hazards and to improve occupational health and safety in industry. The first step supports the identification of the root causes of accidents and injuries. The second step involves the participation of the workers in the analysis of the consequences and the causes of safety issues in their workplace. The last step investigates the process deficiencies that may impact on the safety performances of the work system. The participatory technique adopted in this paper is the focus group with the workers, based on the fault tree analysis method. The findings suggest that the causes of unsafe work conditions may be the result of inefficiencies and deficits in the work process. The proposed approach allows multiple benefits, including an increased commitment of the workers and an improved safety culture within the organization. Such improvements are critical, especially when a relevant part of the workforce includes aged workers with multiple years of experience with the investigated tasks and, consequently, prolonged time of exposure to the same risk factors.

Democratisation of educational systems through participatory approaches in US schools and universities

Introduction. This article examines the modern educational approach in the field of liberal arts and practical finance, democratisation of the decision-making system in educational institutions through the active engagement of students on the example of US schools and universities. This approach is based on initiative, or participatory budgeting, i.e. students are involved in the process of allocation of budgetary funds of schools and universities. Such participatory practice has educational and administrative objectives, as it serves to improve the quality management in educational institutions through the involvement of students in major decisions. Taking into account the fact that students are the key beneficiaries of the education system, their opinions lead to increased efficiency in educational institutions.Aim. On the basis of real cases, the current research is aimed to identify and describe participatory techniques that can integrate the teaching of theoretical knowledge in the field of civil society with the formation of practical skills in this area.Methodology and research methods. Desk research method of analysing primary and secondary sources (websites of educational institutions, academic publications, and articles in the media) and the field sociological method of expert interviews were used. Expert interviews with representatives of schools and universities, teachers, officers from educational institutions, consultants from the Participatory Budgeting Project, the leading consulting organisation in North America were conducted.Results. The results of the study reveal several participatory techniques for students’ engagement in the allocation of budgetary funds of schools and universities that are applied in New York and Arizona. The identified and described technologies of participation contribute to the formation of students’ knowledge of socio-economic disciplines, practical finance and civics, project management skills, as well as an increase in civic engagement.Scientific novelty. The present study expands the ideas about how to improve the process of teaching social and economic disciplines at schools and universities, practical finance and project management. The method of improving the efficiency of educational institutions through democratic practices is identified.Practical significance. In the future, the proposed approach can be applied in Russian educational institutions.

ALTERNATIVES FOR PARTICIPATORY LANDSCAPE PLANNING IN MANGROVE AREAS

The main objective of this work is to determine the landscape planning alternatives of the populations that have a direct relationship with the mangrove ecosystems (Bunche community). The theoretical foundation is the Geo-ecology of landscapes (GEL). The phases that were fulfilled are: i) characterization of the physical and natural landscape; ii) characterization of the socio-cultural landscape by participatory techniques, and secondary information. The participatory techniques were: Workshops, Social mapping and semi- structured interviews. iii) Integrate the information collected from the landscapes: physical, natural, social and cultural; in order to determine the most appropriate and sustainable management alternatives in the community. Social perception was the main information to raise the conclusive alternatives. The population of Bunche has unfavorable socio-economic figures, highlighting that almost the entire population lives in poverty due to unsatisfied basic needs. The constant threat and destruction of mangroves (mostly blame shrimp) is the main perception of the population; as well as his manifest desire to reverse this situation. The initial characterization resulted in 10 landscapes, where the social and natural component interact. The climate present in the population is mainly rain, with two ecosystems: Forests of the equatorial Chocó and the mangroves of the equatorial Chocó. The sustainable planning of the territory must start from: sustainable tourism and agroecology. It is also possible to implement mangrove recovery processes with the support of the community

PEMBELAJARAN ROUNDTABLE MENGGUNAKAN MEDIA PUZZLE DALAM PEMBELAJARAN MAHAROH QIRO’AH DI KELAS VII MTS. MIFTAHUL ULUM TONGGOWA KECAMATANPRIGEN KABUPATEN PASURUAN

In a learning process, one of the important components of success that must be considered is the use and utilization of learning media. Improving the quality of teaching and learning processes and outcomes in an institution and at every level of education needs to be realized optimally so that human resources (HR) can be fulfilled so that they are able to compete to support national development in our country, Indonesia in particular and the whole world in general. With such great expectations, we should increase student activity in the learning process. For this reason, the use of Puzzle media is an effort to make learning more interesting so that it can help students understand the material more easily, train students' creativity, concentration and focus on subject matter, can teach students to work in teams (please help) and develop knowledge according to the topic of the lesson. by presenting examples in class. The objectives of this study are: 1- to determine the use of media in learning Arabic at MTs Miftahul Ulum Tonggowa 2- to determine the results of the influence of student learning on Arabic subjects at MTs Miftahul Ulum Tonggowa between before and after using Puzzle media. 
 For this reason, in achieving the above objectives, in this study the researchers used a qualitative method (qualitative method) withe any of type of research using tests, direct observation, interviews and documentation. The data obtained were analyzed using participatory observation techniques, namely combining the data obtained from the research process. 
 By using this method, the researchers saw an increase in students' enthusiasm for learning Arabic.

Doing Unto Others: Applied Anthropology, Collaborative Research and Native Self-determination

This paper examines applied anthropology in relation to Native self-determination. Adherence to the principle of self-determination in research produces a fundamental shift from independent to collaborative research. The paper discusses Native people’s involvement in research design and the role of aboriginally defined policy in shaping the parameters of applied research.The research-policy nexus remains dominated by non-Native practitioners and bureaucrats employing inappropriate methodologies. Anthropologists can strengthen interdisciplinary research by advocating the use of participatory and other qualitative research techniques which Native people view as ‘culturally appropriate’.

Expert‐based assessment of rewilding indicates progress at site‐level, yet challenges for upscaling

Rewilding is gaining importance across Europe, as agricultural abandonment trajectories provide opportunities for large‐scale ecosystem restoration. However, its effective implementation is hitherto limited, in part due to a lack of monitoring of rewilding interventions and their interactions. Here, we provide a first assessment of rewilding progress across seven European sites. Using an iterative and participatory Delphi technique to standardize and analyze expert‐based knowledge of these sites, we 1) map rewilding interventions onto the three central components of the rewilding framework (i.e. stochastic disturbances, trophic complexity and dispersal), 2) assess rewilding progress by quantifying 19 indicators spanning human forcing and ecological integrity and 3) compile key success and threat factors for rewilding progress. We find that the most common interventions were keystone species reintroductions, whereas the least common targeted stochastic disturbances. We find that rewilding scores have improved in five sites, but declined in two, partly due to competing socio‐economic trends. Major threats for rewilding progress are related to land‐use intensification policies and persecution of keystone species. Major determinants of rewilding success are its societal appeal and socio‐economic benefits to local people. We provide an assessment of rewilding that is crucial in improving its restoration outcomes and informed implementation at scale across Europe in this decade of ecosystem restoration.

Increasing youth awareness of local culture through active learning

This study aims to determine the influence of practice-based active learning on students' interest and response in learning local culture in drama classes. The research was conducted at public universities in Indonesia using two active learning strategies. Qualitative methods using participatory techniques, interviews, and observations were carried out in collecting data for this study. The sample of this research is fifty drama class students. The analysis of data was done after the drama classes ended, which was marked by the process of assessing student learning outcomes through stage performances. This study showed a statistically significant increase in students' interest and response to learning local culture through collaborative learning methods and role-play in drama classroom learning. This study recommends adopting an active learning strategy in teaching local cultural materials to students. Further research is recommended on designing different active learning strategies with other variables and in different locations.
 
 
 Keywords: Scriptwriting; classroom drama teaching; teaching local culture; active learning.

Analyzing governance challenges using Process Net-Map: a case study of a government microcredit scheme in Bangladesh

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the governance challenges confronted by a government microcredit program in Bangladesh following a case study approach.Design/methodology/approachA novel qualitative research tool called process net-map (PNM) was applied to develop a framework for visual understanding of the exact credit implementation process and to identify the actors responsible for creating governance challenges. Key informant interviews were also conducted to identify and distinguish the challenges faced by both the supply-side and demand-side stakeholders.FindingsThe findings reveal that the studied case faced problems in allocating adequate resources to human and physical capacity development. It was combined with the shortage of funds that made it impossible to meet the clients’ expectations. The lack of legal and regulatory framework disabled the organization from controlling political influence and corruption in the system. Moreover, the policy of lending only to groups proved counterproductive as it led to the exclusion of potentially viable borrowers.Practical implicationsThe key recommendation of the study is on increasing the microcredit fund and a reform of the group lending policy along with several other recommendations.Originality/valueThe PNM is a newly developed participatory mapping technique that has not been applied in the field of microfinance. Therefore, the use of this method may add new knowledge of conducting an in-depth analysis of why such challenges are associated with mostly public microfinance programs and how they are linked to the implementation process. The challenges encountered are relevant for the implementation of developmental programs that are dependent on the allocation of public funds.

Uganda Mountain Community Health System-Perspectives and Capacities towards Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance.

In mountain communities like Sebei, Uganda, which are highly vulnerable to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, community-based surveillance plays an important role in the monitoring of public health hazards. In this survey, we explored capacities of village health teams (VHTs) in Sebei communities of Mount Elgon in undertaking surveillance tasks for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in the context of a changing climate. We used participatory epidemiology techniques to elucidate VHTs’ perceptions on climate change and public health and assessed their capacities to conduct surveillance for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Overall, VHTs perceived climate change to be occurring with wider impacts on public health. However, they had inadequate capacities in collecting surveillance data. The VHTs lacked transport to navigate through their communities and had insufficient capacities in using mobile phones for sending alerts. They did not engage in reporting other hazards related to the environment, wildlife, and domestic livestock that would accelerate infectious disease outbreaks. Records were not maintained for disease surveillance activities and the abilities of VHTs to analyze data were also limited. However, VHTs had access to platforms that could enable them to disseminate public health information. The VHTs thus need to be retooled to conduct their work effectively and efficiently through equipping them with adequate logistics and knowledge on collecting, storing, analyzing, and relaying data, which will improve infectious disease response and mitigation efforts.

Transformative or Tokenistic?

Transformative or Tokenistic?

Vulnerability drivers for small pelagics and milkfish aquaculture value chain determined through online participatory approach

Climate change impacts on the fisheries can be short-term or long-term, making them highly vulnerable. Fishers' vulnerability encompasses several factors and includes, among others, their sensitivity, exposure to the elements, and their adaptive capacity. The main aim of this study was to help develop a vulnerability assessment tool that can be applied in the various nodes of the fisheries and aquaculture value chains with a long-term view of enhancing the resilience of the fisheries and helping increase the adaptive capacity of the fishing communities. A participatory technique using online workshops was conducted together with various stakeholders (N = 214) who gave insights and suggested indicators that drive climate change impacts and vulnerability. Based on the online workshops conducted, the common hazards/drivers were increasing temperature, typhoons, flooding (sea-level rise), and the recent pandemic, which consequently destroy coral reef ecosystems, affect fisheries yield, increases fish mortality, damage boats, fishing gears, pens, cages, pond dikes, erode beach properties, and devastate houses. In association with these impacts, mobility, travel, processing, and logistic operations are severely reduced. In the human dimension, the fishers and fish farmers are directly affected in terms of income loss, destroyed fishing gears, nutritional deficiencies and health impacts, less fishing operations, early or reduced harvest yield, and low market value of products. In the adaptation options, the infrastructure, social, economic, awareness/knowledge, and relevant governance/policy dimensions are needed to address and help mitigate various climate change impacts.

Animal health and food safety risk assessments.

Animal health risk assessment is one of the key tasks of Veterinary Services. There are well-established protocols created by the World Organisation for Animal Health and Codex Alimentarius Commission for assessing risk. They cover terrestrial and aquatic animals and zoonotic infectious diseases, food safety, and the environment, taking into consideration the connections between them. Significant effort has been made in developing methods to estimate the probability, and consequences, of infectious disease incursion in diseasefree countries through legal or illegal trade or via the movements of insects and wildlife. Additional efforts have been made in the design of prevention strategies and contingency plans. Concerns about possible pandemics of avian influenza continue to be important motivation for monitoring viruses for selection of vaccine candidate strains. The recent COVID-19 pandemic was zoonotic in nature and caused extensive disruption throughout the world. Tools are becoming available for quantitative food safety risk assessments for bacteria, toxins, viruses, and antimicrobial resistance genes, including tools that allow simulations for the selection of effective control options. Applying participatory techniques facilitates the conduct of risk analysis in low- and middle-income countries. In internationally established frameworks, risk assessment is the first step towards elimination of important infectious diseases in endemic countries and it is an important contributor to the reduction of disease risks. Quantitative and qualitative socio-economic and behavioural studies have been developed to design risk management options that are acceptable and sustainable for actors throughout value chains.

English

The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.), also known as “tree of life”, is widely distributed across the Coastal Zone in Benin, where its cultivation is most important. Using participatory research appraisal tools and techniques, a survey was conducted in this zone to assess the diversity of coconut ecotypes, associated endogenous knowledge and their utilization. Nineteen villages randomly selected, and comprising seven ethnic groups were surveyed. Ten different vernacular names were recorded across the study sites. The local diversity is very low. In particular, the number of ecotypes varied from 1 to 5. Moreover, recorded ecotypes were grouped in three categories including the tall ecotype known as endogenous ecotype, dwarf ecotypes known as introduced ecotypes and medium-sized ecotypes resulting from the crossing between the first two. The most important preference criteria used by producers were productivity (43%) followed by sweet taste (33%) and quantity of water (33%). Apart from being used for food, the species is also used for construction, traditional medicine, and traditional ceremonies. This study provides important information on the genetic resources of coconut palm while highlighting the socio-economic importance of the species in the Coastal Zone of Benin.   Key words: Endogenous knowledge, diversity, Cocos nucifera, palm uses, preference criteria, Benin.

MANAJEMEN PEMBINAAN KESANTUNAN BERBAHASA DALAM PEMBELAJARAN PAI DI ERA REVOLUSI INDUSTRI 4.0

This study aims to reveal the management of language politeness coaching through learning Islamic Religious Education at Creative Junior High School (SMP) IHAQI Boarding School Bandung. The approach used in this research is a qualitative approach with descriptive methods. The data collection technique was done by triangulation; structured interview techniques with principals, vice principals, educators and students. Participatory observation techniques are carried out in activities and student financing programs. Documentation techniques by taking document or photo data related to student coaching activities. The results showed that; First, planning language politeness development through Islamic religious education learning at IHAQI Boarding School Bandung Creative Junior High School is done by compiling syllabus, lesson plans and journals, selecting suitable material / content and learning activities. Second, the implementation of language politeness development through Islamic religious education learning at IHAQI Boarding School Bandung Creative Junior High School is carried out directly by educators and deputy principals of student affairs. Third, evaluation of language politeness fostering through Islamic religious education learning at Ihaqi Creative Middle School in Bandung, namely the lack of development of polite speaking skills in students and it is felt that the method of politeness is ineffective when applied when learning online, so it needs proper formulation and more innovative language politeness exemplified in short learning time, especially in the PAI learning process.

Delaying sexual onset: outcome of a comprehensive sexuality education initiative for adolescents in public schools

BackgroundA common risk behavior in adolescence is the early initiation of unprotected sex that exposes adolescents to an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections. Schools are an ideal place to strengthen adolescents’ sexual knowledge and modify their behavior, guiding them to exercise responsible sexuality. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the knowledge of public secondary school teachers who received training in comprehensive education in sexuality (CES) and estimate the counseling’s effect on students’ sexual behavior.MethodsSeventy-five public school teachers were trained in participatory and innovative techniques for CES. The change in teacher knowledge (n = 75) was assessed before and after the training using t-tests, Wilcoxon ranks tests and a Generalized Estimate Equation model. The students’ sexual and reproductive behavior was evaluated in intervention (n = 650) and comparison schools (n = 555). We fit a logistic regression model using the students’ sexual debut as a dependent variable.ResultsTeachers increased their knowledge of sexuality after training from 5.3 to 6.1 (p < 0.01). 83.3% of students in the intervention school reported using a contraceptive method in their last sexual relation, while 58.3% did so in the comparison schools. The students in comparison schools were 4.7 (p < 0.01) times more likely to start sexual initiation than students in the intervention schools.ConclusionTraining in CES improved teachers’ knowledge about sexual and reproductive health. Students who received counseling from teachers who were trained in participatory and innovative techniques for CES used more contraceptive protection and delayed sexual debut.

The impact of African swine fever virus on smallholder village pig production: An outbreak investigation in Lao PDR.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a deadly disease of pigs which spread through southeast Asia in 2019. We investigated one of the first outbreaks of ASFV in Lao People's Democratic Republic amongst smallholder villages of Thapangtong District, Savannakhet Province. In this study, two ASFV affected villages were compared to two unaffected villages. Evidence of ASFV‐like clinical signs appeared in pig herds as early as May 2019, with median epidemic days on 1 and 18 June in the two villages, respectively. Using participatory epidemiology mapping techniques, we found statistically significant spatial clustering in both outbreaks (p < 0.001). Villagers reported known risk factors for ASFV transmission – such as free‐ranging management systems and wild boar access – in all four villages. The villagers reported increased pig trader activity from Vietnam before the outbreaks; however, the survey did not determine a single outbreak source. The outbreak caused substantial household financial losses with an average of nine pigs lost to the disease, and Monte Carlo analysis estimated this to be USD 215 per household. ASFV poses a significant threat to food and financial security in smallholder communities such as Thapangtong, where 40.6% of the district's population are affected by poverty. This study shows ASFV management in the region will require increased local government resources, knowledge of informal trader activity and wild boar monitoring alongside education and support to address intra‐village risk factors such as free‐ranging, incorrect waste disposal and swill feeding.

Quality Circles: An Approach to Determine the Job Satisfaction of Construction Employees

ABSTRACT Teamwork and participatory management techniques, such as quality circles (QCs), have positive impacts on employee JS. Nevertheless, literature has ignored the use of QCs to enhance JS in the construction industry. Thus, this study aimed to explore the influence of QCs on the JS of employees working in the construction industry in Sri Lanka. The exploratory nature of the study required data collection through semi-structured interviews, conducted in two rounds. The collected data were analyzed using code-based content analysis. The interviewees selected using purposive sampling, were holding managerial positions in construction organizations. The symptoms and causes of poor employee JS in the construction industry were identified; the QC objectives that can address poor employee JS were also analyzed. The study findings indicated that QCs are effective in enhancing the JS of construction employees.

Smart as (un)democratic? The making of a smart city imaginary in Kolkata, India

‘Smart’ imaginaries have been enthusiastically embraced by urban planners and policymakers around the world. Indians are no exception. Between 2015–2018, following national government guidelines to use participatory and inclusive processes, many cities developed proposals for a smart city challenge. Successful proposals received financial and technical support from the national government. We examine the making of the smart city proposal submitted by New Town Kolkata (NTK). We ask how (un)democratic was the making of the proposal, along three aspects: distributive, participatory, and responsive. Based on an analysis of documents and interviews with policymakers and citizens, we find that NTK’s smart city imaginary largely failed to be distributive. It rarely accounted for the specific needs of poorer and vulnerable citizens. City officials invested considerable effort in using participatory techniques, but citizen participation was tightly controlled through top-down design and practice of the techniques. The latter often facilitated one-way flow of information from the city administration to the citizens. The proposal was responsive to some citizens’ voices, but only those belonging to the more affluent classes. A messy diversity of citizens’ voices was thus closed down, as the city officials filtered and cherry-picked citizens’ voices that were well-aligned with the official technocratic vision of ‘global’ smart urbanism. The paper shows how democracy can be put in the service of technocracy, within a rhetoric of citizen participation and social inclusion that embodies smart urbanism.