The focus of this research is a localised action research framework, or more specifically, the
development of action-research theories based on experiences in a South African Landcare
project. The Bergville Landcare project, implemented from 2000 to 2005, was aimed at
developing conservation agriculture (CA) practices in a community of resource-poor farmers.
These attempts culminated in the development of a soft-system platform on which participatory
action research methodologies and techniques could be based in order to facilitate adult and
action learning. The following six strategies were identified for the development of such a
platform: awareness, local institution building, training-of-trainers, farmer-to-farmer extension, onfarm
experimentation and partnerships. The main action-research methodology used to
manage these strategies is monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
The approach selected for this research is one in which multiple methodologies are deemed the
most appropriate for developing theories within the paradigm of constructivism and interactive
agricultural science, i.e. a combination of grounded theory, action research and soft-systems
methodology (SSM). The design of the research process resulted in effectively using and
analysing the different data sources within the following four phases: a) theory as an initial guide
to design and data collection; b) application of initial theories in a Landcare project; c) theory
as part of an iterative process of data collection and analysis; and d) gaining theoretical and
practical insights into the focal research problems.
A number of theories relating to action research were seen as critical in the formulation of the
process which was applied in the Bergville project. Action research, experiential learning and action learning formed the foundation of the action research approach which was conducted
with resource-poor farmers in the Bergville project. In a practical sense, action research was
seen as the âumbrella methodologyâ, applied in harmony with other methodologies, such as
SSM, the Farming Systems Approach (FSA), Farmer Participatory Research (FPR), Farmer Field
School (FFS) and M&E.
The âaction research processâ applied in the Bergville project was used as the so called âActingâ
phase, and was the primary data-source for the research process. The various documents and
data used, i.e. project reports, a personal research diary, significant changes and M&E findings,
are described comprehensively. A convergent interviewing process was used to obtain an
indication of how sustainable the activities and results of the project were.
The multi-methodological data analysis and theory development process proved to be
successful in establishing local theories for practical application. Cognitive maps were used in
combination with a general SSM framework to stimulate data analyses, reflection, learning and
ultimately theorising. Three cognitive maps were developed in which local theories for on-farm
experimentation, training-of-trainers, farmer-to-farmer extension, local institutionalisation and
M&E are explicated. Since the cognitive map is a structuring (conceptualisation) of a complex
situation, they were discussed in detail in an attempt to improve their understanding.
The most suitable approach for a synthesis of the theorising results appeared to be the
integration of the results into an improved theoretical framework addressing the main research
questions of this study. This improved framework proved to be that of a systems model which
included the major phases of the action-research cycle, and this was used to describe the
proposed methodologies and techniques. The proposed six phases of this model are: a)
Stakeholder analysis, b) Diagnosis (Situation analysis), c) Planning strategically, d) Implementing
and managing, e) Learning and adapting, and f) Exit strategy. This model provides a means of
creating a culture of learning that would allow people to be innovative and interactive in the
management of natural resources and to collectively care for and manage these resources in a
sustainable manner.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ufs/oai:etd.uovs.ac.za:etd-10252012-134856 |
| Date | 25 October 2012 |
| Creators | Smith, Hendrik Johannes |
| Contributors | Dr A-J Verschoor, Dr A Stroebel, Prof S Walker |
| Publisher | University of the Free State |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en-uk |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.uovs.ac.za//theses/available/etd-10252012-134856/restricted/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University Free State or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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