Structured Mental Model Approach for Analyzing Perception of Risks to Rural Livelihood in Developing Countries

Sustainability

Claudia R. Binder¹ 

[1] Social and Industrial Ecology, Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland

关键词: mental models;    sustainable rural livelihood;    livelihood risks of farmers;    developing countries;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su2010001

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

This paper presents the Structural Mental Model Approach aimed at understanding differences in perception between experts and farmers regarding the various livelihood risks farmers are confronted with. The SMMA combines the Sustainable Livelihood Framework with the Mental Model Approach and consists of three steps: (i) definition and weighting of different livelihood capitals; (ii) analysis of livelihood dynamics, and (iii) definition of the social capital by means of agent networks. The results provide a sound basis for the design of sustainable policy interventions such as communication and educational programs which consider farmers’ priorities and viewpoints.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.