This paper concerns the use of action research within a research institute both to meet immediate objectives of the staff and to learn about the research methodology. In a situation characterised by decreased funding and curriculum reform based on the concepts of experiential learning, the Checkland soft-systems methodology was adopted to manage a change in the role of university farms using a consensus approach. Two outcomes of the research process were (i) improvement in financial returns in the farms, a better working climate and greater use of farms in experiential education, and (ii) the researchers learned about the methodology and how it is able to accommodate purposeful behaviour and issues of power. Following description of the initial situation, the paper outlines the steps involved in applying the soft-systems methodology to that situation.
This reports the findings of a village appraisal carried out in North England by the parish council. The purpose was to gain a better idea of local opinions to inform council decisions on a range of topics. The booklet gives overviews of the locality's main characteristics, population, housing, transport, local needs and concerns and suggested options for the future.
This document is a guide to conducting village appraisals, aimed at communities in the UK. It introduces what village appraisals are about, what they can be used for and what the expected benefits may be. How to decide what to do and how to go about it are discussed, with a sample timetable of activities, and sample documents for informing the community about the appraisal, sample questionnaires, lists of funding options and documentary sources.
This report presents the results of a village appraisal questionnaire conducted in three parishes in northern England. The questionnaire addressed education, transport, housing, recreation, services and general issues in the communities. The tabulated responses to the questions on local peopleÆs opinions on these issues are presented. There are also short discussions of particular issues such as road safety, litter etc., and of what should be done.
This report presents the results of a village appraisal questionnaire conducted in a community in northern England. The questionnaire addressed health, education, elderly, transport, housing, services, employment and village life issues in the community. The tabulated responses to the questions on local people's opinions on these issues are presented. There are also short discussions of particular issues such as road safety, litter etc., and of what should be done.
This brochure describes how to do village appraisals in twelve sequenced steps. The methodology and material is aimed at rural communities in the UK. Such appraisals are aimed at describing local resources and facilities, assessing the options for achieving resources currently not possessed, and planning for the future. Village appraisals can involve parish councils and other local organisations such as schools, Women's Institutes etc. Everyone's opinion can be taken into account through this simple survey technique. A computer programme helps users choose questions from a menu, print a questionnaire and analyse replies.
This book presents a participative action model to assist groups in developing the organisational, analytical and management skills required for community action to achieve sustainable use of land and water resources at the local level. Groups using this book are expected to develop participatory mechanisms for planning and implementing land and water management projects. It is aimed at developing self-learning skills by community leaders, extension officers and students in Australia. The contents are divided into short learning units in which outlines of theories, concepts and principles are followed by personal and group activities. The organisation of chapters follows the pattern of group development. It explains the philosophy of participative action in land care (Ch. 2); and discusses learning to work together, development of leadership skills and defining of roles and responsibilities (Chs. 3-5). The next eight chapters are on 'how to' aspects of group functioning: running a meeting, organising activities, planning, motivating oneself and others, effective communication, finding human and financial resources for projects. The last two chapters discuss how to keep momentum going and how to manage conflicts that accompany change.
This chapter from a guide to participatory land and water resource management, designed for community leaders and extension officers in Australia, discusses participatory planning for community action. Its main points are: the planning process consists of situational analysis, goal-setting, selection of solutions, development of implementation plans and monitoring and evaluation; seven steps are given to provide understanding of institutional planning undertaken by various agencies in the district; eight steps work through community planning by developing managerial skills; and eight techniques for improving participatory planning are described in detail. The chapter is written in a comprehensible and interactive style.
This is a collection of three papers on systems agriculture, written in the early -mid 1980s. The first outlines some key concepts, methodologies and practices used within the systems approach to agriculture. It emphasises experiential learning, contrasting its application within the conventional, reductionist methodology and the systems methodology. Discussing varieties of systems approaches to problem solving, the author discusses in detail the distinctive approach used by Hawkesbury Agricultural College. The second paper discusses Hawkesbury's curricula initiatives, contrasting it with other learning and research paradigms used in Australia. These emphasise experiential learning to address complex problem solving. The final paper reflects on action research concerning the development of the School of Agriculture at Hawkesbury. Viewing the school as a purposeful sub-system within a complex macro-system of agriculture, the design of appropriate activities and structures in the School are discussed.
These papers introduce an initiative by Common Ground in the UK to assist communities to value their surroundings, whether they are rare or not, by producing parish maps and displaying them in prominent places. These articles explain the rationale, and describe the process of initiating a map through community efforts to elicit different viewpoints and to display them locally. Several examples are presented.
This paper reports the findings of a workshop attended by farmers in New Zealand. Farmers' objectives, their circumstances and the constraints they face are central to any consideration of ways of improving farming systems. The management, research and extension, and policy needs of the farmers attending this workshop were diverse. This diversity was linked to the degree of diversity in business objectives and management structures on their farms. More research on these issues across a spectrum of farmers is required to ensure that research and technology transfer meet their needs. Most of the discussion relates to wool and meat products.
This paper concerns agricultural extension and technology transfer to livestock farmers in New Zealand. Data shows that those farmers who have adopted farm inputs an appropriate technology achieve higher productivity and profitability. This raises the questions of why the rest have not. This paper presents some farm and farmer information gathered in the farmer first research programme to provide insights into this question, and draws some conclusions for those charged with delivering technology transfer programmes. These conclusions emphasise the diverse constraints farmers face, which must be taken into account in further technology development.
This paper argues the case for participative ecodesign as a means of conducting future rangeland research and development in Australia. To embark on this path it will be necessary for the rangeland science community to critically question traditions and myths which shape current practices. These include current concepts of extension, technology transfer, community and human communication. Research has shown that attitudes of rangeland decisions makers are rarely a constraint to dealing with issues of land degradation and management and technology adoption. Attempts to change attitudes are likely to be of little value. A recognition of the unequal power relations implicit in traditional practice is a necessary precondition for the emergence of participative processes which reverse the history of subjection of grazier knowledge and values by institutionalised authority. [Author's abstract].
This article reports a survey of farmers in Young Shire, New South Wales, Australia, in which their perceptions of soil salting on their land and some views on its wider incidence and importance were explored. The survey (involving questionnaires and interviews) found that many farmers had a salinity problem and were acquainted with its symptoms and processes. This has implications for extension and group activity aimed at the salinity problem. these implications and some innovative group extension methods are discussed. RRA is identified as a potential methodology for future action research.
When working with family farmers is New South Wales, Australia, researchers from Hawkesbury observed the importance of issues faced by families associated with the transfer of farms to the next generation. This forms the topic of this paper. Interviews with families revealed a number of common questions which were related to the household life cycle. The paper explores these issues in detail. Interviews with accountants, solicitors, bank managers and a social worker provided different perspectives on these issues. Communication between generations, family members, and between farming families and professionals and among professionals emerged as a central issue.