Rural Social Research
Using Heather’s practical experience and knowledge, she has the ability to connect and talk with farmers and growers, learning about their lives and understanding what they are thinking. With this skill set she has the ability to explore social change, helping others understand by sharing farmers’ experiences and stories.
CASE STUDY
PhD in Agriculture and Environment
Using a social capital framework and case study methods, Heather explored: how dairy farmers responded to water quality policy interventions; and the socio-cultural dynamics - networks, trust, norms and ‘good farmer’ identity - that influenced their responses.
She entered PhD research as a facilitator and practitioner who lives in a rural community, and works with farmers, rural communities and organisations who support farmers. Heather wanted to know:
How can individuals and organisations work with, better inform and support farmers in a transition to more sustainable farm management systems?
Heather wanted to learn more about the socio-cultural dynamics that influence farmer behaviour – who farmers work with, who they trust, and how that influences their decision making. She wanted to explore social norms - the powerful unwritten rules that govern behaviour. She wanted to investigate the changes farmers make to their farm systems, and the reasons why changes are made. This research has international significance for farmers, rural communities, organisations and governments grappling with societal expectations around farm management practice change for environmental benefit.
“I got to know Heather via APEN. We’ve worked together in a few different ways, including co-facilitating a workshop prior to the recent APEN international conference, and through RMPP Action Network as Heather is an Action Group facilitator in the programme. Heather is an amazing facilitator! Her background in rural social research gives her the ability to ask challenging questions, but in a way that allows the discussion to keep moving forward. Heather creates space for change.
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CASE STUDY
Horizons Regional Council - Social Impact Assessment for Proposed Plan Change 2.
SIA is a social research process that involves affected people and other stakeholders in the analysis, management and mitigation of social impacts of a planned intervention. Heather chose the participatory methodology; one based on a philosophy about the rights of people in the community to be involved in decision making about matters that will affect their lives. As such, impacts are identified and mitigated from the perspective of the farmers, commercial vegetable growers, goods and service providers and communities who could be potentially affected by this plan change.