Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) in interdisciplinary research and application: a critical review

Ruddle Kenneth, . and Davis Anthony, . Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) in interdisciplinary research and application: a critical review. pp. 79-100. ISSN 0116-6514

An interdisciplinary approach is necessary for the sustainable management and governance of renewable natural resources in which Local Ecological Knowledge� (LEK) a quintessentially interdisciplinary field is regarded as an essential source of information. But the effective use of LEK for this purpose would first demand the recognition and correction of the serious limitations of LEK social research. A recent literature analysis by Davis and Ruddle (2010) demonstrated that the basic problems characterising social research on LEK are the use of unsophisticated theories or concepts with often undocumented and non-systematic research designs and methodologies that result in unwarranted or indefensible outcomes. In addition standards of accountability and transparency must be raised beginning with the elementary requirement that researchers provide descriptions of research designs and methodologies that enable assessment of the reliability and representativeness of findings and facilitate comparison generalisation and evidence based conclusions. The related issues of the problems inherent in applying an interdisciplinary approach and the manipulation of the publications process to suppress undesirable opinions and research results are examined.

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Abstract

An interdisciplinary approach is necessary for the sustainable management and governance of renewable natural resources in which Local Ecological Knowledge� (LEK) a quintessentially interdisciplinary field is regarded as an essential source of information. But the effective use of LEK for this purpose would first demand the recognition and correction of the serious limitations of LEK social research. A recent literature analysis by Davis and Ruddle (2010) demonstrated that the basic problems characterising social research on LEK are the use of unsophisticated theories or concepts with often undocumented and non-systematic research designs and methodologies that result in unwarranted or indefensible outcomes. In addition standards of accountability and transparency must be raised beginning with the elementary requirement that researchers provide descriptions of research designs and methodologies that enable assessment of the reliability and representativeness of findings and facilitate comparison generalisation and evidence based conclusions. The related issues of the problems inherent in applying an interdisciplinary approach and the manipulation of the publications process to suppress undesirable opinions and research results are examined.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Natural resources
AGROVOC Term:	Fisheries
AGROVOC Term:	Fish harvesting
AGROVOC Term:	Sustainability
AGROVOC Term:	Ecosystems
AGROVOC Term:	Local knowledge
AGROVOC Term:	Fishery management
AGROVOC Term:	Fermented products
AGROVOC Term:	Community development
AGROVOC Term:	Natural resource management
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 06:28
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23664

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