A reflection on research design and methodologies used in the social learning literature
- Rodela, Romina, Cundill, Georgina, Wals, Arjen
- Authors: Rodela, Romina , Cundill, Georgina , Wals, Arjen
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436584 , vital:73284 , ISBN 978-1-919991-81-8 , 10.13140/2.1.1855.3285
- Description: This paper reviews the social learning research literature related to natu-ral resources management. It provides an overview of the social learning discourse and then comments on methodologies used by social learning researchers. The present study is part of an activity that looked at the so-cial learning methodological agenda. As such it is a companion study to the analysis reported in Rodela, Cundill and Wals (under review) where aspects of knowledge production and validation in social learning re-search were considered. The present analysis adds to this a deconstruc-tion of the research designs used and a reflection on methodologies that can best support the study of learning processes in a natural resource management context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Rodela, Romina , Cundill, Georgina , Wals, Arjen
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436584 , vital:73284 , ISBN 978-1-919991-81-8 , 10.13140/2.1.1855.3285
- Description: This paper reviews the social learning research literature related to natu-ral resources management. It provides an overview of the social learning discourse and then comments on methodologies used by social learning researchers. The present study is part of an activity that looked at the so-cial learning methodological agenda. As such it is a companion study to the analysis reported in Rodela, Cundill and Wals (under review) where aspects of knowledge production and validation in social learning re-search were considered. The present analysis adds to this a deconstruc-tion of the research designs used and a reflection on methodologies that can best support the study of learning processes in a natural resource management context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A search for coherence: Social learning in natural resource management
- Cundill, Georgina, Rodela, Romina
- Authors: Cundill, Georgina , Rodela, Romina
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436597 , vital:73285 , ISBN 978-1-919991-81-8 , https://transformativelearning.education/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/reviews-on-social-learning-literature.pdf
- Description: This paper presents the results of a review process that sought to disen-tangle the different ways in which social learning is conceptualised in nat-ural resource management. We begin with an historical review that seeks to reveal the roots of social learning theory in natural resource manage-ment. Based on this analysis, we develop typologies of statements about the processes that support social learning, and the outcomes of these processes. We then conduct a systematic review of the literature to as-sess the extent to which there is an emerging consensus around these typologies. We conclude that a key source of the confusion currently prevalent in the literature, stems from the fact that the same term is used to refer to quite different processes, which have different outcomes as their goal. To find our way out of the current confusion in the literature, researchers must be explicit about the definitions that they adopt for so-cial learning, and locate these definitions within the historical develop-ment of thinking around social learning in this field. Active debate about appropriate definitions for social learning, based on empirical studies and experience, should form the basis of this field of research in the coming years.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Cundill, Georgina , Rodela, Romina
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436597 , vital:73285 , ISBN 978-1-919991-81-8 , https://transformativelearning.education/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/reviews-on-social-learning-literature.pdf
- Description: This paper presents the results of a review process that sought to disen-tangle the different ways in which social learning is conceptualised in nat-ural resource management. We begin with an historical review that seeks to reveal the roots of social learning theory in natural resource manage-ment. Based on this analysis, we develop typologies of statements about the processes that support social learning, and the outcomes of these processes. We then conduct a systematic review of the literature to as-sess the extent to which there is an emerging consensus around these typologies. We conclude that a key source of the confusion currently prevalent in the literature, stems from the fact that the same term is used to refer to quite different processes, which have different outcomes as their goal. To find our way out of the current confusion in the literature, researchers must be explicit about the definitions that they adopt for so-cial learning, and locate these definitions within the historical develop-ment of thinking around social learning in this field. Active debate about appropriate definitions for social learning, based on empirical studies and experience, should form the basis of this field of research in the coming years.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Deployment, Maintenance And Further Development Of Spatsim-HDSF Volume
- Clark, D J, Hughes, Denis A, Smithers, J C, Thornton-Dibb, S L C, Forsyth, David A
- Authors: Clark, D J , Hughes, Denis A , Smithers, J C , Thornton-Dibb, S L C , Forsyth, David A
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438323 , vital:73451 , ISBN 978-1-4312-0295-9 , https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/1870-1-121.pdf
- Description: The National Water Act (NWA, 1998) of South Africa (Act 36 of 1998) aims to ensure that South Africa’s water resources are managed and used in an equitable and sus-tainable manner for the benefit of all. The National Water Act (NWA) requires a dif-ferent approach to managing the nation’s water resources and the concept of inte-grated water resources management (IWRM) is central to this approach (Pollard and Du Toit, 2008). IWRM requires water managers to consider hydrological, ecological, economic, political, social and institutional aspects of water resources. To imple-ment IWRM, water managers require integrated modelling tools to provide infor-mation that can assist in making managements decisions. There are two aspects of integrated modelling that have received increasing attention in recent years: (i) the coupling of models representing different water resource domains, and (ii) the de-velopment of integrated modelling frameworks or decision support systems. These integrated modelling frameworks typically include a common data repository, common data editing tools, common spatial and temporal data visualisation and analysis tools, and a collection of framework compatible models that make use of these common tools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Clark, D J , Hughes, Denis A , Smithers, J C , Thornton-Dibb, S L C , Forsyth, David A
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438323 , vital:73451 , ISBN 978-1-4312-0295-9 , https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/1870-1-121.pdf
- Description: The National Water Act (NWA, 1998) of South Africa (Act 36 of 1998) aims to ensure that South Africa’s water resources are managed and used in an equitable and sus-tainable manner for the benefit of all. The National Water Act (NWA) requires a dif-ferent approach to managing the nation’s water resources and the concept of inte-grated water resources management (IWRM) is central to this approach (Pollard and Du Toit, 2008). IWRM requires water managers to consider hydrological, ecological, economic, political, social and institutional aspects of water resources. To imple-ment IWRM, water managers require integrated modelling tools to provide infor-mation that can assist in making managements decisions. There are two aspects of integrated modelling that have received increasing attention in recent years: (i) the coupling of models representing different water resource domains, and (ii) the de-velopment of integrated modelling frameworks or decision support systems. These integrated modelling frameworks typically include a common data repository, common data editing tools, common spatial and temporal data visualisation and analysis tools, and a collection of framework compatible models that make use of these common tools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Deployment, Maintenance And Further Development Of Spatsim-HDSF: Volume 2
- Hughes, Denis A, Forsyth, David A, Stassen, J J M, van Niekerk, E
- Authors: Hughes, Denis A , Forsyth, David A , Stassen, J J M , van Niekerk, E
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438255 , vital:73446 , ISBN 978-1-4312-0296-6 , https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/1870%20-2-121.pdf
- Description: The purpose of the National Database is to create a central repository of Reserve or EWR determination results that can be accessed by DWA as well as their service providers to ensure that information is not lost and that the maximum benefit is gained from previous experience for future determinations. This document summa-rises the information content of the database, as well as providing guidelines for entering new data and using existing data. Reference to both Reserve and EWR de-terminations is used as some of the data that are included pre-date the official con-cept of the ecological ‘Reserve’ and were referred to as IFRs at that time. It is ac-cepted, however, that the term ‘IFR’ has been largely superseded by the use of the term EWR or ecological water requirements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Hughes, Denis A , Forsyth, David A , Stassen, J J M , van Niekerk, E
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438255 , vital:73446 , ISBN 978-1-4312-0296-6 , https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/1870%20-2-121.pdf
- Description: The purpose of the National Database is to create a central repository of Reserve or EWR determination results that can be accessed by DWA as well as their service providers to ensure that information is not lost and that the maximum benefit is gained from previous experience for future determinations. This document summa-rises the information content of the database, as well as providing guidelines for entering new data and using existing data. Reference to both Reserve and EWR de-terminations is used as some of the data that are included pre-date the official con-cept of the ecological ‘Reserve’ and were referred to as IFRs at that time. It is ac-cepted, however, that the term ‘IFR’ has been largely superseded by the use of the term EWR or ecological water requirements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Educational perspectives on social learning theory: antecedents and starting points for research
- Lotz-Sisitka, Heila, Mukute, Mutizwa, Belay, Million
- Authors: Lotz-Sisitka, Heila , Mukute, Mutizwa , Belay, Million
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436612 , vital:73286 , ISBN 978-1-919991-81-8 , https://transformativelearning.education/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/reviews-on-social-learning-literature.pdf
- Description: This paper contributes to the social learning literature. It argues that there is a need to give attention to the antecedent literatures that inform understandings of the social in social learning; and the learning in social learning. These antecedent literatures (drawn mainly from sociocultural psychology, learning theory and realist social theory in this paper) are necessary in social learning research, if we are to avoid the problem of ontological collapse in social learning research. The concept of ontologi-cal collapse (after Sfard, 2006) refers to a tendency in modern sciences to objectify social processes. It is used in this paper to draw attention to the need to understand the complex social processes involved in social learn-ing (and the antecedent literatures that may enable us to do so). As such, it warns against reification in social learning research; and also warns against turning social learning into an object, devoid of complex learning processes and agentive reflexions, decision making and practices. To clar-ify this concept, the paper shares examples of instances of ontological collapse, showing that at times, the social learning literature itself can fall victim to the problem of ontological collapse. Drawing on the literature review work in two cases studies of social learning research that work carefully with the antecedent literatures, the paper demonstrates the im-portance of engaging carefully with these literatures to avoid ontological collapse in social learning research in the fields of environmental education and natural resources management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Lotz-Sisitka, Heila , Mukute, Mutizwa , Belay, Million
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436612 , vital:73286 , ISBN 978-1-919991-81-8 , https://transformativelearning.education/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/reviews-on-social-learning-literature.pdf
- Description: This paper contributes to the social learning literature. It argues that there is a need to give attention to the antecedent literatures that inform understandings of the social in social learning; and the learning in social learning. These antecedent literatures (drawn mainly from sociocultural psychology, learning theory and realist social theory in this paper) are necessary in social learning research, if we are to avoid the problem of ontological collapse in social learning research. The concept of ontologi-cal collapse (after Sfard, 2006) refers to a tendency in modern sciences to objectify social processes. It is used in this paper to draw attention to the need to understand the complex social processes involved in social learn-ing (and the antecedent literatures that may enable us to do so). As such, it warns against reification in social learning research; and also warns against turning social learning into an object, devoid of complex learning processes and agentive reflexions, decision making and practices. To clar-ify this concept, the paper shares examples of instances of ontological collapse, showing that at times, the social learning literature itself can fall victim to the problem of ontological collapse. Drawing on the literature review work in two cases studies of social learning research that work carefully with the antecedent literatures, the paper demonstrates the im-portance of engaging carefully with these literatures to avoid ontological collapse in social learning research in the fields of environmental education and natural resources management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Introducing the monograph and the (re)views
- Authors: Lotz-Sisitka, Heila
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436623 , vital:73287 , ISBN 978-1-919991-81-8 , https://transformativelearning.education/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/reviews-on-social-learning-literature.pdf
- Description: This monograph, entitled (Re) Views on Social Learning Literature: A monograph for social learning researchers in natural resources manage-ment and environmental education provides four different reviews on the social learning literature. Rather than seeking to be comprehensive, the reviews seek to provide views on the social learning literature, from dif-ferent perspectives. The purpose of the monograph is to scope aspects of the social learning literature, providing access to a wide body of litera-ture(s) on social learning for emerging researchers interested in social learning in the fields of environmental education and natural resources management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Lotz-Sisitka, Heila
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436623 , vital:73287 , ISBN 978-1-919991-81-8 , https://transformativelearning.education/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/reviews-on-social-learning-literature.pdf
- Description: This monograph, entitled (Re) Views on Social Learning Literature: A monograph for social learning researchers in natural resources manage-ment and environmental education provides four different reviews on the social learning literature. Rather than seeking to be comprehensive, the reviews seek to provide views on the social learning literature, from dif-ferent perspectives. The purpose of the monograph is to scope aspects of the social learning literature, providing access to a wide body of litera-ture(s) on social learning for emerging researchers interested in social learning in the fields of environmental education and natural resources management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Prediction of water temperature metrics using spatial modelling in the Eastern and Western Cape, South Africa
- Rivers-Moore, Nick A, Mantel, Sukhmani K, Dallas, Helen F
- Authors: Rivers-Moore, Nick A , Mantel, Sukhmani K , Dallas, Helen F
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438180 , vital:73441 , ISBN 1816-7950 , https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/2651.pdf
- Description: Key aspects of a river’s temperature regime are described by magnitudes, timing and durations of thermal events, and frequencies of extreme exceedance events. To understand alterations to thermal regimes, it is necessary to describe thermal time series based on these statistics. Classification of sites based on their thermal met-rics, and understanding of spatial patterns of these thermal statistics, provides a powerful approach for comparing study sites against reference sites. Water tem-perature regime dynamics should be viewed regionally, where regional divisions have an inherent underpinning by an understanding of natural thermal variability. The aim of this research was to link key water temperature metrics to readi-lymapped environmental surrogates, and to produce spatial images of temperature metrics: 37 temperature metrics were derived for 12 months of sub-daily water temperatures at 90 sites in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Rivers-Moore, Nick A , Mantel, Sukhmani K , Dallas, Helen F
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438180 , vital:73441 , ISBN 1816-7950 , https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/2651.pdf
- Description: Key aspects of a river’s temperature regime are described by magnitudes, timing and durations of thermal events, and frequencies of extreme exceedance events. To understand alterations to thermal regimes, it is necessary to describe thermal time series based on these statistics. Classification of sites based on their thermal met-rics, and understanding of spatial patterns of these thermal statistics, provides a powerful approach for comparing study sites against reference sites. Water tem-perature regime dynamics should be viewed regionally, where regional divisions have an inherent underpinning by an understanding of natural thermal variability. The aim of this research was to link key water temperature metrics to readi-lymapped environmental surrogates, and to produce spatial images of temperature metrics: 37 temperature metrics were derived for 12 months of sub-daily water temperatures at 90 sites in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
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