Spotlights on certification and farmers' welfare: crossing boundaries in social scientific research

Social scientists have the freedom to adopt different methodological approaches when researching development. This article illustrates how four common social scientific methodologies (positivism, social constructivism, action research, and normative political theory) differently conceptualise the ef...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Development in practice Vol. 27; no. 8; pp. 1078 - 1090
Main Authors:	Offermans, Astrid, Glasbergen, Pieter
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Abingdon Routledge 17-11-2017 Taylor & Francis, Ltd Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:	Accumulation Action research Boundaries Certification Civil society - Partnership Constructivism Environment (built and natural) - Agriculture Farmers Freedoms Governance and public policy Methodological approaches Methods Political philosophy Positivism Social constructionism Social scientists Sustainability Welfare
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Social scientists have the freedom to adopt different methodological approaches when researching development. This article illustrates how four common social scientific methodologies (positivism, social constructivism, action research, and normative political theory) differently conceptualise the effects of sustainability certification on Indonesian smallholder farmers. It shows that each approach results in different insights, offering a web of information to practitioners. Better understanding the different methodologies may help practitioners to take position in dilemmas, not in a linear process of knowledge accumulation, but in an iterative process of research consultation and practices.
ISSN:	0961-4524 1364-9213
DOI:	10.1080/09614524.2017.1360249