scholarly journals Can Indigenous Knowledge Contribute to the Sustainability Management of the Aspiring Rio Coco Geopark, Nicaragua?

Geosciences ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Pásková

Indigenous knowledge in the UNESCO Global Geoparks represents an important emerging research topic. This study investigates aspects of the indigenous environmental knowledge in the southern part of the aspiring Rio Coco Geopark (Nicaragua) and its potential to enhance the sustainability management of geotourism and other geopark activities. The ethnographic method has been implemented in the form of semi-structured interviewing of the representatives of local households and through the application of participant observation. Related field research methods included documentation of the life history of Elders, focal group discussions, GPS mapping, photo-documentation, and problem tree analysis. The results indicate that the best-conserved indigenous environmental knowledge relates to the use of land, rocks, and plants, while the expression and transmission of the spiritual dimension of this traditional knowledge are declining. The key implications of the observed indigenous knowledge for the geopark decision-makers include the identified potential for its sustainability management, geotourism and geo-interpretation opportunities, as well as the conditions for the implementation of this potential.

2017 ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Javier Santos ◽  
Juan Ignacio Piovani ◽  
María Eugenia Rausky

ResumenLa idea de una Escuela Sociológica de Chicago en el período de entreguerras ha resultado persistente –en el marco de una interpretación que podríamos considerar clásica– bajo el supuesto lugar privilegiado que ésta tuvo en el desarrollo de los métodos cualitativos de investigación social (en general) y de la observación participante (en particular). Sin embargo, algunos de los autores que han avanzado en la reconstrucción de la historia de los métodos de investigación sociológica han cuestionado que se trate de métodos cualitativos en el sentido actual, presentando así una interpretación revisionista de la Escuela y de sus aportes metodológicos.Teniendo en cuenta esta tensión entre interpretaciones clásicas y revisionistas, en este artículo nos proponemos caracterizar las prácticas de investigación de campo (fieldwork) desplegadas en las monografías chicaguenses (tesis doctorales) que luego serían tomadas como hitos fundacionales de la observación participante sociológica por parte de los mentores de la interpretación clásica.Estas prácticas observacionales aplicadas en la investigación empírica de Chicago son interpretadas a partir de dos dimensiones: por una parte desde el punto de vista instrumental/operativo (técnico), recurriendo a la tipología desarrollada por Gold (1958) en su célebre artículo sobre los roles de observación y participación. Por otra parte, desde el punto de vista teórico-epistemológico, teniendo en cuenta su relación con supuestos objetivistas/cientificistas o interpretativos/cualitativos.Esta doble dimensión del análisis (epistemológico/técnico) permite mediar entre las versiones clásicas y revisionistas de la Escuela de Chicago, destacando la aplicación pionera en este contexto de técnicas análogas (al menos superficialmente) a la moderna observación participante (aspecto técnico), pero fundamentadas en general a partir de postulados objetivistas y cientificistas, y no en el marco de las concepciones interpretativas que en la actualidad dan sustento a la investigación cualitativa (aspecto epistemológico).Palabras clave: Escuela de Chicago, Metodología cualitativa, Obervación ParticipanteAbstractThe idea of a Sociological School of Chicago during the interwar period has been persistent –from a perspective that could be considered classical–, under the assumption that it had a special place in the development of qualitative methods of social research (in general) and of participant observation (in particular). However, some authors that focused on the history of sociological research methods have contested the idea that it developed qualitative methods in the modern sense, presenting a revisionist interpretation of the School and its methodological contributions.Given this tension between traditional and revisionist interpretations, this paper examines the practices of field research (fieldwork) portrayed in the Chicagoans’ monographs (doctoral thesis) that were later taken as foundational landmarks of sociological participant observation by the mentors of the above-mentioned classical interpretation.These observational practices applied in empirical investigations conducted by Chicagoans are analyzed from two dimensions: on one hand from the instrumental/operational (technical) standpoint, using the typology developed by Gold (1958) in his famous article on the roles of observation and participation. On the other hand, from the theoreticalepistemological perspective, taking into account their relationship with objectivist/scientistic or either interpretive/qualitative assumptions.This double dimension of analysis (epistemological/technical) allows to mediate between the classical and revisionist versions of the Chicago School, highlighting its pioneering application of research techniques at least superficially similar to modern participant observation (technical aspect), but based on objectivist and scientistic principles, and not on the kind of interpretative concepts that currently support qualitative methodology (epistemological aspect).Key words: Chicago School, Qualitative Methodology, Participant Observation 


Author(s):  
Boyson Henry Zondiwe Moyo ◽  
Dumisani Z. Moyo

This chapter discusses contested issues in development related to Indigenous knowledge, and conventional development practice and theory. Drawing on findings from triangulated field research including interviews with farmers and experts, participant and field observations, focus group discussions, and soil sampling; this chapter argues that although development aims at improving the quality of life of people concerned, the understanding of such improved life quality is different between local people and development experts. Experts emphasize economic growth as measured by per capita income, which is sometimes inadequate in explaining local people's understanding of development. The findings of the study lay bare the underlying values of local farmers in northern Malawi that contribute to improving quality of life and living standards. Indigenous knowledge developed by farmers shows that progress is understood in terms of adequate food, fresh tasty value-laden food available for consumption and utilizing more than one part of the crops grown, and not just adequate income.


2017 ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Javier Santos ◽  
Juan Ignacio Piovani ◽  
María Eugenia Rausky

ResumenLa idea de una Escuela Sociológica de Chicago en el período de entreguerras ha resultado persistente –en el marco de una interpretación que podríamos considerar clásica– bajo el supuesto lugar privilegiado que ésta tuvo en el desarrollo de los métodos cualitativos de investigación social (en general) y de la observación participante (en particular). Sin embargo, algunos de los autores que han avanzado en la reconstrucción de la historia de los métodos de investigación sociológica han cuestionado que se trate de métodos cualitativos en el sentido actual, presentando así una interpretación revisionista de la Escuela y de sus aportes metodológicos.Teniendo en cuenta esta tensión entre interpretaciones clásicas y revisionistas, en este artículo nos proponemos caracterizar las prácticas de investigación de campo (fieldwork) desplegadas en las monografías chicaguenses (tesis doctorales) que luego serían tomadas como hitos fundacionales de la observación participante sociológica por parte de los mentores de la interpretación clásica.Estas prácticas observacionales aplicadas en la investigación empírica de Chicago son interpretadas a partir de dos dimensiones: por una parte desde el punto de vista instrumental/operativo (técnico), recurriendo a la tipología desarrollada por Gold (1958) en su célebre artículo sobre los roles de observación y participación. Por otra parte, desde el punto de vista teórico-epistemológico, teniendo en cuenta su relación con supuestos objetivistas/cientificistas o interpretativos/cualitativos.Esta doble dimensión del análisis (epistemológico/técnico) permite mediar entre las versiones clásicas y revisionistas de la Escuela de Chicago, destacando la aplicación pionera en este contexto de técnicas análogas (al menos superficialmente) a la moderna observación participante (aspecto técnico), pero fundamentadas en general a partir de postulados objetivistas y cientificistas, y no en el marco de las concepciones interpretativas que en la actualidad dan sustento a la investigación cualitativa (aspecto epistemológico).Palabras clave: Escuela de Chicago, Metodología cualitativa, Obervación ParticipanteAbstractThe idea of a Sociological School of Chicago during the interwar period has been persistent –from a perspective that could be considered classical–, under the assumption that it had a special place in the development of qualitative methods of social research (in general) and of participant observation (in particular). However, some authors that focused on the history of sociological research methods have contested the idea that it developed qualitative methods in the modern sense, presenting a revisionist interpretation of the School and its methodological contributions.Given this tension between traditional and revisionist interpretations, this paper examines the practices of field research (fieldwork) portrayed in the Chicagoans’ monographs (doctoral thesis) that were later taken as foundational landmarks of sociological participant observation by the mentors of the above-mentioned classical interpretation.These observational practices applied in empirical investigations conducted by Chicagoans are analyzed from two dimensions: on one hand from the instrumental/operational (technical) standpoint, using the typology developed by Gold (1958) in his famous article on the roles of observation and participation. On the other hand, from the theoreticalepistemological perspective, taking into account their relationship with objectivist/scientistic or either interpretive/qualitative assumptions.This double dimension of analysis (epistemological/technical) allows to mediate between the classical and revisionist versions of the Chicago School, highlighting its pioneering application of research techniques at least superficially similar to modern participant observation (technical aspect), but based on objectivist and scientistic principles, and not on the kind of interpretative concepts that currently support qualitative methodology (epistemological aspect).Key words: Chicago School, Qualitative Methodology, Participant Observation 


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-161
Author(s):  
Thi Thu Huong KIEU ◽  
Thi Ngan NGUYEN ◽  
Thi Hien Thuong NGUYEN ◽  
Thi Hai Anh VU ◽  
Do Huong Giang NGUYEN ◽  
...  

This study aims to investigate the indigenous knowledge (IK) of three ethnic minority groups in the Northern Mountain Region (NMR) of Vietnam. The groups include (1) Tay people who live at lower elevations; (2) a Dao community who tend to live in the middle elevations and (3) Hmong farmers who mainly reside at higher elevations areas of the mountain. This research intends to identify climate change (CC) and its impact on agricultural cultivation and find out how these groups can adapt to CC by applying their IK in agriculture practices. Data was collected through focus group discussions (n=9), in-depth interviews (n=80), and participant observation. From the 80 respondents, 27 live in Bac Kan province, 23 in Yen Bai province and 30 in Son La province; those who had experience in agricultural production, elderly and village heads. The results show that the NMR weather has significant changes that negatively impact agriculture cultivation and local livelihood. Although the respondents are from different ethnic minorities, these farmers are highly aware of the CC risks, leading into adaptation practices. While the Tay people's major adaptation strategies include the use of a variety of native plants and changing planting calendars, the Dao and Hmong people apply intercropping and local techniques methods in terracing fields using local varieties of livestock. Our findings highlight the importance of using the IK of ethnic minorities in adaptation towards CC. A better targeting about the use of local resources in future national policies and projects is encouraged. Nghiên cứu này nhằm thu thập kiến thức bản địa (IK) của ba nhóm dân tộc thiểu số ở Miền núi phía Bắc (MNPB) của Việt Nam bao gồm (1) dân tộc Tày chủ yếu sống ở vùng thấp; (2) Người Dao có xu hướng sống ở các độ cao trung bình; và (3) người Hmông chủ yếu cư trú ở các khu vực đồi núi cao. Nghiên cứu này nhằm xác định tình hình biến đổi khí hậu (BĐKH) và tác động của nó đối với sản xuất nông nghiệp, đồng thời tìm hiểu cách thức các nhóm dân tộc thiểu số này có thể thích ứng với BĐKH bằng cách áp dụng các kiến thức bản địa của họ vào thực tiễn sản xuất nông nghiệp. Dữ liệu được thu thập thông qua thảo luận nhóm tập trung (n = 9), phỏng vấn sâu (n = 80) và quan sát người tham gia. Trong số 80 người được hỏi, có 27 người sống ở tỉnh Bắc Kạn; 23 người ở tỉnh Yên Bái và 30 người ở tỉnh Sơn La, là những người có kinh nghiệm sản xuất nông nghiệp, người cao tuổi và trưởng thôn. Kết quả cho thấy thời tiết ở khu vực MNPB đã có những thay đổi so với trước gây tác động xấu đến canh tác nông nghiệp và sinh kế của cộng đồng. Mặc dù những người được hỏi từ các dân tộc khác nhau nhưng họ đều nhận thức được sự thay đổi này của thời tiết, do đó họ đã có những thích ứng riêng. Trong khi người Tày sử dụng giống cây trồng địa phương và thay đổi lịch thời vụ thì người Dao và Hmong chọn phương pháp xen canh và áp dụng kỹ thuật bản địa trên đất ruộng bậc thang và sử dụng gióng vật nuôi bản địa. Các phát hiện của chúng tôi giúp hiểu được tầm quan trọng của việc sử dụng IK trong thích ứng với BĐKH của các dân tộc thiểu số, từ đó có thể hướng đến mục tiêu tốt hơn việc sử dụng các nguồn lực địa phương trong các chính sách và dự án quốc gia trong tương lai.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-52
Author(s):  
Michael Pittman

G. I. Gurdjieff (c.1866–1949) was born in Gyumri, Armenia and raised in the Caucasus and eastern Asia Minor. He also traveled extensively throughout Turkey to places of pilgrimage and in search of Sufi teachers. Through the lens of Gurdjieff’s notion of legominism, or the means by which spiritual teachings are transmitted from successive generations, this article explores the continuing significance of spiritual practice and tradition and the ways that these forms remain relevant in shaping contemporary trends in spirituality. Beginning with Gurdjieff’s use of legominism, the article provides reflection on some early findings done in field research in Turkey— through site visits, interviews and participant-observation—conducted in the summers of 2014 and 2015. The aim of the project is both to meet individuals and groups, particularly connected to Sufism, that may have some contact with the influences that Gurdjieff would have been familiar with, and to visit some of the sites that were part of Gurdjieff’s early background and which served to inform his work. Considerations of contemporary practices include the view of spiritual transmission, and practices of pilgrimage, prayer and sohbet, or spiritual conversation, in an ongoing discourse about spiritual transformation.


Metahumaniora ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Erlina Zulkifli Mahmud ◽  
Taufik Ampera ◽  
Yuyu Yohana Risagarniwa ◽  
Inu Isnaeni Sidiq

Kedudukan dan fungsi bahasa sebagai alat komunikasi manusia mencakup seluruh bidang kehidupan termasuk ilmu pengetahuan antara lain terkait sejarah peradaban manusia; bagaimana manusia mempertahankan hidupnya, bagaimana manusia memperlakukan alam, bagaimana alam menyediakan segala kebutuhan manusia. Apa yang dilakukan manusia saat ini, saat lampau, dan apa yang dilakukan manusia jauh di masa prasejarah, bagaimana kondisi alam di masa-masa tersebut, apa perubahan dan perkembangannya, dapat didokumentasikan melalui bahasa, divisualisasikan kembali, lalu dipajang sebagai salah satu upaya konversai dan preservasi dalam satu institusi yang disebut museum. Penelitian ini membahas kedudukan dan fungsi bahasa dalam permuseuman. Bagaimana kedudukan dan fungsi bahasa dalam permuseuman baik dalam informasi yang disampaikan oleh pemandu wisata museumnya maupun yang terpajang menyertai benda-benda dan gambar-gambar merupakan tujuan dari penelitian ini. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah gabungan antara metode lapangan dan metode literatur. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa secara umum kedudukan bahasa Indonesia berada pada urutan pertama setelah Bahasa Inggris dan keberadaan kedua bahasa dalam permuseuman ini melibatkan dua fungsi utama bahasa, yakni fungsi komunikatif dan fungsi informatif.The existence and function of language  as a medium of communication covers all fields of human life including knowledge, one of them is the history of human civilization; how humans survived, how human utilized nature for their lives, and how nature provides all the necessities for humans. What humans have been doing now, what they have done in the past and far before that in the pre-history time, how the conditions of the nature at those times were and what changes as well as progresses occurred are documented using language, then re-visualized,  displayed as one of conservation and preservation acts in an institution called museum. This research discusess the existence and function of language in museums. How important the existence of a language in museums and what language functions used in museums both in informations given by the museum guides and on the displays accompanying objects and pictures are the aims of this research. The methods used are the combination between field research and library research. The results show that generally the existence of Indonesian language plays more important role than English and both languages have two main functions; communicative function and informative function.     


Author(s):  
Amanda Cabral ◽  
Carolin Lusby ◽  
Ricardo Uvinha

Sports Tourism as a segment is growing exponentially in Brazil. The sports mega-events that occurred in the period from 2007 to 2016 helped strengthen this sector significantly. This article examined tourism mobility during the Summer Olympic Games Rio 2016, hosted by the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This study expands the understanding of the relationship between tourism and city infrastructure, therefore being relevant to academics, professionals of the area and to the whole society due to its multidisciplinary field. The existence of a relationship between means of transportation and the Olympic regions as well as tourist attractions for a possible legacy was observed. Data were collected from official sources, field research and through participant-observation and semi structured interviews. Data were coded and analyzed. The results indicate that the city was overall successful in its execution of sufficient mobility. New means of transportation were added and others updated. BRT's (Bus Rapid Transit) were the main use of mass transport to Olympic sites. However, a lack of public transport access was observed for the touristic sites.


Author(s):  
Srividhya Samakya V. ◽  
T. Subramanyam Naidu

This article aims to understand the perception of Parengi Porja’s ways of illness treatments and health management. The Parengi Porja is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Population (PVTG), inhabiting the hilly regions of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. They strongly believe in supernatural agents as being the cause of illness. For this study, the Parengi Porja tribal mothers were purposively selected from five villages situated in the study district. We used participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, case studies, and semistructured interview schedules. We conducted five focus group discussions (FGDs) to understand the reasons for illness, and its diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Data types include demographic variables, incidences of illnesses, and their management. The study shows that this tribal population has its own understanding about the illness etiology and management strategy to regain healthy life.


2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 608-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goro Kuno ◽  
Gwong-Jen J. Chang

SUMMARY Among animal viruses, arboviruses are unique in that they depend on arthropod vectors for transmission. Field research and laboratory investigations related to the three components of this unique mode of transmission, virus, vector, and vertebrate host, have produced an enormous amount of valuable information that may be found in numerous publications. However, despite many reviews on specific viruses, diseases, or interests, a systematic approach to organizing the available information on all facets of biological transmission and then to interpret it in the context of the evolutionary process has not been attempted before. Such an attempt in this review clearly demonstrates tremendous progress made worldwide to characterize the viruses, to comprehend disease transmission and pathogenesis, and to understand the biology of vectors and their role in transmission. The rapid progress in molecular biologic techniques also helped resolve many virologic puzzles and yielded highly valuable data hitherto unavailable, such as characterization of virus receptors, the genetic basis of vertebrate resistance to viral infection, and phylogenetic evidence of the history of host range shifts in arboviruses. However, glaring gaps in knowledge of many critical subjects, such as the mechanism of viral persistence and the existence of vertebrate reservoirs, are still evident. Furthermore, with the accumulated data, new questions were raised, such as evolutionary directions of virus virulence and of host range. Although many fundamental questions on the evolution of this unique mode of transmission remained unresolved in the absence of a fossil record, available observations for arboviruses and the information derived from studies in other fields of the biological sciences suggested convergent evolution as a plausible process. Overall, discussion of the diverse range of theories proposed and observations made by many investigators was found to be highly valuable for sorting out the possible mechanism(s) of the emergence of arboviral diseases.


Author(s):  
Edbert Jay M. Cabrillos ◽  
◽  
Rowena S. Cabrillos ◽  

Pottery is seen as creation of ornamentals, cooking and storing materials. Yet, while economic gains are often considered from producing these materials, the artistic and linguistic aspects have been ignored. This study discusses the factors influencing the culture of pottery, the processes of pottery making, and seeks to uncover the language used in processes of pottery making in Bari, Sibalom, Antique. A qualitative research employing ethnographic study with participant observation and face to face interviews using photo documentation, video recording and open-ended questions in gathering the data was employed. There were five manugdihon, or potters, purposively selected as key informants of the study. The study revealed that environmental factors influenced the culture of pottery making in the barangay. There were seven main processes in pottery making. These included gathering and preparing of materials, mixing the needed materials, cleaning the mixed clay, forming of desired shape, detaching, drying, and polishing and varnishing. Further findings indicate that, together the other processes, the language used in poterry making was archaic Kinaray-a, the language of the province. This language pattern suggests a specialized pottery making. Ultimately, the study suggest that the manugdihon should continue their artistic talents so that the language may be preserved. The educational institutions of the province may provide ways to include pottery making in the curriculum so that the art and language of pottery making will be preserved and promoted.


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