Evaluation of Field Test

Chapters 4 and 5 of a MSc thesis on the use of RRA in social forestry are available. Chapter 4 assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the RRA approach used in a social forestry study in Sierra Leone, (i) by analysing the biases, decisions and compromises made in planning and implementation of a field test, and (ii) by comparing the results of the field test with those of previous relevant research, including a formal questionnaire survey. The following factors influencing the RRA field test are analysed: composition of RRA team; RRA team orientation and training; fieldwork strategy decisions; use of the issue checklist framework; use of interview checklists; delegation of information gathering duties; information collection and interpretation; and day to day research biases. The RRA results are compared with other research (mainly by questionnaire) on species preference, and fuelwood trading. The final section compares RRA favourably with questionnaire methods. Chapter 5 summarises conclusions on the compatibility of social forestry and RRA, its applications in social forestry and the conditions for its use (RRA skills and attitudes of the forestry profession). Some detailed information on the study sites is given as an appendix.