Project Research Components

This unit has as a purpose to increase the research assistants' methodological skills and their knowledge of climate change issues, taking place through: (a) training materials posted to the project web site, and (b) training on the job - acquiring practical skills by being engaged in the research activities of the project. The Milestone Report emphasizes the development and delivery of climate change, GIS materials, and ethnographic on-line training materials (website), as well as training on the job-acquiring practical skills by being engaged in research activities under the supervision of research team members. This unit is under the coordination of D. Sauchyn. The main activities are:

1. Development and delivery of climate change training materials: This training has taken place through on-line and regular courses offered by members of the research team for a group of research assistants. Students have been strongly encouraged to participate in interdisciplinary graduate courses in areas relevant to climate change. Some of these courses have been (a) a course (Geography 491/891, University of Regina) focused on the impacts of climate change on biophysical and social systems, and the adjustments to policies and practices that will be required to minimize the negative impacts; it was offered in 2005 and 2006 and it will be offered again in 2007 and 2008; and (b) a course (Sociology 880, University of Regina) focused on conceptual issues in the areas of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change. It was offered in 2004 and it will be offered again in 2007.



2. Development and delivery of ethnographic materials: Three documents have been posted on the website with the purpose of improving the assistants' capabilities in the area of research: (a) Resource Guide for Community Vulnerability Assessment: This guide is an overview of the ethnographic research approach that characterizes the community vulnerability assessment. It describes the main components of ethnographic research and acts as a guide to different sources containing more detailed discussion of these components; (b) Fieldwork Guide: This guide provides the research assistants working in the area of community vulnerability assessment with some common guiding principles for undertaking fieldwork. It supports the field guides developed for the fieldwork of Units 1A and 1B; and (c) NVivo Guide: This is a brief introductory overview and guide to NVivo (a software for qualitative data analysis) for researchers and research assistants undertaking community vulnerability assessment. NVivo is been used for the analysis of the data collected in several of the project's research activities data and for the preparation of project reports. The purpose of this guide is to introduce researchers to the NVivo software in a cursory manner, laying out some of the basic characteristics and functions of the software.



3. Training on the job: In addition to participating directly in data collection activities, research assistants have also been active in the collection of baseline material, preparation of documents, the elaboration of working papers and dissemination materials, in the organization of seminars, and participation in the project's annual meetings, under the direction and supervision of the members of the research team

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