A mixed methods approach for measuring topic sensitivity in conservation
Abstract Conservationists increasingly aim to understand human behaviour to inform intervention design. However, obtaining information from people about their behaviour can be challenging, particularly if the research topic is considered sensitive. Topic sensitivity may raise methodological, ethical...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-08-01
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| Series: | People and Nature |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10501 |
| _version_ | 1797755559042088960 |
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| author | Harriet Ibbett Julia P. G. Jones Leejiah Dorward Edward M. Kohi Asri A. Dwiyahreni Karlina Prayitno Stephen Sankeni Joseph Kaduma Jesca Mchomvu Andie Wijaya Saputra Humairah Sabiladiyni Jatna Supriatna Freya A. V. St John |
| author_facet | Harriet Ibbett Julia P. G. Jones Leejiah Dorward Edward M. Kohi Asri A. Dwiyahreni Karlina Prayitno Stephen Sankeni Joseph Kaduma Jesca Mchomvu Andie Wijaya Saputra Humairah Sabiladiyni Jatna Supriatna Freya A. V. St John |
| author_sort | Harriet Ibbett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Conservationists increasingly aim to understand human behaviour to inform intervention design. However, obtaining information from people about their behaviour can be challenging, particularly if the research topic is considered sensitive. Topic sensitivity may raise methodological, ethical, political and legal concerns which, if poorly addressed, can have significant impacts on research participants, the research process, data quality and the success of conservation outcomes that are informed by research findings. While considerable effort has been invested in developing techniques for reducing bias when collecting data on sensitive topics, less attention has been focused on identifying if, and why, a topic is sensitive. We use a mixed methods approach to explore how willing people are to discuss topics that could be considered sensitive (e.g. illegal wildlife hunting). Collecting data from people living near protected areas in Indonesia (n = 362) and Tanzania (n = 345), we developed and tested a psychometric scale to measure topic sensitivity at the respondent level and conducted group exercises (free‐lists and pile sorts) to gain a deeper understanding of peoples' willingness to discuss different topics. The perceived sensitivity of topics varied both within and between the two focal contexts, with more topics being perceived as sensitive in Tanzania than Indonesia. Participants' knowledge of rules, and their experiences of living alongside protected areas affected how sensitive they considered topics to be. Mixed methods approaches can provide holistic and nuanced understanding of topic sensitivity. However, recognising that in‐depth studies are not always feasible to implement, we demonstrate that methods, such as our Sensitivity Index, can easily be adapted for different contexts and deployed to rapidly obtain valuable insights on topic sensitivity, to help inform conservation research and practice. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:49:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e7409d1710c842438a89d508b556da7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2575-8314 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:49:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | People and Nature |
| spelling | doaj.art-e7409d1710c842438a89d508b556da7f2023-08-03T10:26:58ZengWileyPeople and Nature2575-83142023-08-01541245126110.1002/pan3.10501A mixed methods approach for measuring topic sensitivity in conservationHarriet Ibbett0Julia P. G. Jones1Leejiah Dorward2Edward M. Kohi3Asri A. Dwiyahreni4Karlina Prayitno5Stephen Sankeni6Joseph Kaduma7Jesca Mchomvu8Andie Wijaya Saputra9Humairah Sabiladiyni10Jatna Supriatna11Freya A. V. St John12School of Natural Sciences, College of Environmental Science and Engineering Bangor University Bangor UKSchool of Natural Sciences, College of Environmental Science and Engineering Bangor University Bangor UKSchool of Natural Sciences, College of Environmental Science and Engineering Bangor University Bangor UKTanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) Arusha TanzaniaResearch Centre for Climate Change Universitas Indonesia Jakarta IndonesiaResearch Centre for Climate Change Universitas Indonesia Jakarta IndonesiaConservation and Human Behaviour Research Group Bangor University Bangor UKConservation and Human Behaviour Research Group Bangor University Bangor UKConservation and Human Behaviour Research Group Bangor University Bangor UKResearch Centre for Climate Change Universitas Indonesia Jakarta IndonesiaResearch Centre for Climate Change Universitas Indonesia Jakarta IndonesiaResearch Centre for Climate Change Universitas Indonesia Jakarta IndonesiaSchool of Natural Sciences, College of Environmental Science and Engineering Bangor University Bangor UKAbstract Conservationists increasingly aim to understand human behaviour to inform intervention design. However, obtaining information from people about their behaviour can be challenging, particularly if the research topic is considered sensitive. Topic sensitivity may raise methodological, ethical, political and legal concerns which, if poorly addressed, can have significant impacts on research participants, the research process, data quality and the success of conservation outcomes that are informed by research findings. While considerable effort has been invested in developing techniques for reducing bias when collecting data on sensitive topics, less attention has been focused on identifying if, and why, a topic is sensitive. We use a mixed methods approach to explore how willing people are to discuss topics that could be considered sensitive (e.g. illegal wildlife hunting). Collecting data from people living near protected areas in Indonesia (n = 362) and Tanzania (n = 345), we developed and tested a psychometric scale to measure topic sensitivity at the respondent level and conducted group exercises (free‐lists and pile sorts) to gain a deeper understanding of peoples' willingness to discuss different topics. The perceived sensitivity of topics varied both within and between the two focal contexts, with more topics being perceived as sensitive in Tanzania than Indonesia. Participants' knowledge of rules, and their experiences of living alongside protected areas affected how sensitive they considered topics to be. Mixed methods approaches can provide holistic and nuanced understanding of topic sensitivity. However, recognising that in‐depth studies are not always feasible to implement, we demonstrate that methods, such as our Sensitivity Index, can easily be adapted for different contexts and deployed to rapidly obtain valuable insights on topic sensitivity, to help inform conservation research and practice. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10501biasfree‐listIndonesiapile‐sortprotected areaspsychometric scale |
| spellingShingle | Harriet Ibbett Julia P. G. Jones Leejiah Dorward Edward M. Kohi Asri A. Dwiyahreni Karlina Prayitno Stephen Sankeni Joseph Kaduma Jesca Mchomvu Andie Wijaya Saputra Humairah Sabiladiyni Jatna Supriatna Freya A. V. St John A mixed methods approach for measuring topic sensitivity in conservation People and Nature bias free‐list Indonesia pile‐sort protected areas psychometric scale |
| title | A mixed methods approach for measuring topic sensitivity in conservation |
| title_full | A mixed methods approach for measuring topic sensitivity in conservation |
| title_fullStr | A mixed methods approach for measuring topic sensitivity in conservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | A mixed methods approach for measuring topic sensitivity in conservation |
| title_short | A mixed methods approach for measuring topic sensitivity in conservation |
| title_sort | mixed methods approach for measuring topic sensitivity in conservation |
| topic | bias free‐list Indonesia pile‐sort protected areas psychometric scale |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10501 |
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