CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2024
| Author | Wong, Jocelyn Min Yi |
|---|---|
| Title | Through the Eyes of Locals: An Exploration of the Outcomes, Factors, and Tools for Effective Collection and Utilization of Qualitative Community-based Monitoring Data in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, South Africa |
| Summary | Community-based monitoring (CBM) has emerged as an ideal alternative to conventional scientific monitoring programs, due to its community empowering potential and proven ability to produce quality data across time and geographical scales at low cost. However, most research was based in developed contexts or were primarily concerned with quantitative data, contrasting the reported prevalence of CBM programs in developing contexts that typically collect some form of qualitative CBM data. Hence, by employing semi-structured interviews, this research aims to add to the sparse literature on qualitative CBM data in developing contexts, whilst also responding to a request by the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region Non-Profit Company (K2C-NPC) to improve their qualitative CBM data analysis capabilities. Thematic analysis yielded two main findings: (1) CBM participants experienced improvements in personal, community, and management aspects through working with qualitative CBM data, and (2) seven factors were found to be both enabling and inhibiting the effective collection and utilization of qualitative CBM data. These findings can guide CBM practitioners in program design, implementation, and evaluation. Additionally, a preliminary data analysis and transformation (DAT) tool, utilizing Microsoft Excel and RStudio, was proposed to improve K2C-NPC’s data analytical capabilities. This tool serves as a starting point for CBM researchers and practitioners to build upon. Overall, this thesis research provided clarity on the outcomes, factors, and tools for the effective collection and utilization of qualitative CBM data, hopefully inspiring researchers and practitioners to implement and sustain monitoring programs conducted through the eyes of locals. |
| Supervisor | Anthony, Brandon P. |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MSc |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2024/wong_jocelyn.pdf |
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