If you’re a conservation professional trained in the natural sciences, you’ll likely be well versed in quantitative research methods - those which gather and analyse numerical data. But what about qualitative methods, the ones which gather text based data?  This is the data that comes from interviews, focus groups, workshops and other methods which have open ended questions.

Evidence from qualitative research enables us to gain deeper insights into people’s motivations and perspectives. Which means, as conservation professionals, we have a better understanding of how to harness people for environmental solutions.

But there is a problem.  There is a big training gap in qualitative methods in conservation training pathways.  Myths and misconceptions abound and create barriers to engaging with this vital suite of methods for gathering conservation evidence.  This leads to a lack of capacity to engage with existing evidence when it is collected using unfamiliar methods - essentially readers dismissing research because they are unsure "how words can even be data".  I also meet professionals and students being expected to use qualitative methods without adequate training or support, such as being expected to conduct, analyse and interpret interviews.  This is definitely not the way to learn to use a new research method!  And it leaves the researchers, respondents and wider community at risk if appropriate ethical and safety considerations have not been integrated into research processes.   

If you, or anyone in your team want to find out a bit more about these important methods, have a read of my recent blog where I demystify qualitative research.  In this blog I explain:

💚 What qualitative research is
💚Why it’s useful in conservation
💚Some of the many methods used to gather qualitative data
💚An introduction to analysing qualitative data

And you can find out how to learn more if you want to learn more about this valuable suite of methods. 

You can find the blog here.

Please message me if you have any questions, I'd be happy to chat