Table 1 Overview of the research design in four research phases
Research phase | Main objectives | Methods | Samples | Outcomes and intended impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Introduce the project to local people | Introduction of project in local newsletter, participation in plant-based and everyday life activities | Recipients of local newsletter, Alchemilla and Bergtee project members, daily encounters | Confidence and trust of biosphere reserve management and local people |
Investigate domain of wild gathered plant species | Freelisting Participant observation | Freelisting: snowball sample of 36 recommended wild plant experts, participant observation of plant gathering and processing with local people | Documentation of local knowledge, popular and scientific publications | |
2 | Strengthen awareness about wild plant gathering | Preparatory and follow-up school workshops; two information letters to parents | 14 classes of all primary schools in the valley | Improved information and awareness about wild plant gathering of children and local people |
Investigate intracultural knowledge variation and motivations | Structured questionnaires | Family members and friends of children, n = 506 people | Insights on knowledge variation and motivations, popular and scientific publications | |
Encourage knowledge transmission | Children as interviewers | 14 classes of all primary schools in the valley | Knowledge transmission through 189 children interviewing 506 respondents | |
3 | Investigate children’s view on wild plant gathering | Two 5-day participatory video workshops with children interviewing local experts | All 17 children of St. Gerold primary school, 10 volunteering children from the valley, interviewing eleven local experts suggested by children | Children’s view on wild plant gathering, two participatory videos, 20 min each |
Encourage transmission and dissemination of local knowledge | Screening of participatory videos at local cultural festival; publishing of internet links to videos in local newsletter; DVDs to lend in local libraries | About 200 visitors of the screening, >500 views of each video in an online video channel, | Dissemination and transmission of local knowledge through participatory videos | |
Empower children | Participatory video filmed with children with broad decision rights for children | All 17 children of St. Gerold primary school, and 10 volunteering children from the valley | Enhanced knowledge of plant gathering, skills in video production | |
4 | Evaluate impact | Semi-structured questionnaires Participant observation | Questionnaires: ten children having taken part in the participatory video workshops and having used plants since then; participant observation during and after research phases 2–4 | Indications about local impact of the research project |