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Ashworth HC, Dada S, Buggy C, Lees S. The Importance of Developing Rigorous Social Science Methods for Community Engagement and Behavior Change During Outbreak Response. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2020;:1-6. [PMID: 32641188 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2020.163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite growing international attention, the anthropological and socio-behavioral elements of epidemics continue to be understudied and under resourced and lag behind the traditional outbreak response infrastructure. As seen in the current 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the importance of socio-behavioral elements in understanding transmission and facilitating control of many outbreak-prone pathogens, this is problematic. Beyond the recent strengthening of global outbreak response capacities and global health security measures, a greater focus on the socio-behavioral components of outbreak response is required. We add to the current discussion by briefly highlighting the importance of socio-behavior in the Ebola virus disease (EVD) response, and describe vital areas of future development, including methods for community engagement and validated frameworks for behavioral modeling and change in outbreak settings.
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Guerrero AM, Barnes M, Bodin Ö, Chadès I, Davis KJ, Iftekhar MS, Morgans C, Wilson KA. Key considerations and challenges in the application of social-network research for environmental decision making. Conserv Biol 2020; 34:733-742. [PMID: 31943349 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Attempts to better understand the social context in which conservation and environmental decisions are made has led to increased interest in human social networks. To improve the use of social-network analysis in conservation, we reviewed recent studies in the literature in which such methods were applied. In our review, we looked for problems in research design and analysis that limit the utility of network analysis. Nineteen of 55 articles published from January 2016 to June 2019 exhibited at least 1 of the following problems: application of analytical methods inadequate or sensitive to incomplete network data; application of statistical approaches that ignore dependency in the network; or lack of connection between the theoretical base, research question, and choice of analytical techniques. By drawing attention to these specific areas of concern and highlighting research frontiers and challenges, including causality, network dynamics, and new approaches, we responded to calls for increasing the rigorous application of social science in conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Guerrero
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
| | - M Barnes
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 4811, QLD, Townsville, Australia
| | - Ö Bodin
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - I Chadès
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
- CSIRO, Ecosciences Precinct, 4102, QLD, Dutton Park, Australia
| | - K J Davis
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, University of Exeter Business School, EX4 4PU, Exeter, Xfi Building, Rennes Drive, U.K
| | - M S Iftekhar
- Centre for Environmental Economics & Policy, UWA School of Agriculture & Environment, M087, The University of Western Australia, 6009, WA, Perth, Australia
| | - C Morgans
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
| | - K A Wilson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, 4072, QLD, Brisbane, Australia
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