Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses : Honours Theses 1999 Evaluating oral histories for restoration ecology Margaret Robertson Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons Part of the Natural Resources and Conservation Commons Recommended Citation Robertson, M. (1999). Evaluating oral histories for restoration ecology. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ theses_hons/512 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/512 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. 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EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Evaluating Oral Histories for Restoration Ecology By Margaret Robertson A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Science (Environmental Management) Honours Faculty of Health, Communication and Science Edith Cowan University Date of Submission - 27 April 1999 .· USE OF THESIS The Use of Thesis statement is not included in this version of the thesis. iii Abstract Significant ecological restoration is required in the agricultural regions of south- western Australia. Environmental history, including local knowledge based on long­ term observation of the biophysical environment, can help guide this process. Scientists already use local anecdotal infonnation because other information sources are absent or too recent, yet they are often skeptical of its veracity. This study focused on whether environmental oral histories can be evaluated for factual accuracy and their capacity to be useful in the restoration process. Some of the complexities associated with linking environmental histories with restoration ecology, and the role played by oral histories in establishing the link were reviewed. Three analytical tools were then established: l. A set of five ecosystem attributes against which the relevancy and comprehensiveness of the oral histories could be assessed. 2. A classification of uses of historical information in the restoration process for assessing the capacity of the interviews to provide information that helps determine restoration potential, understand processes of change and assist restoration planning. 3. A triangulation process for corroborating recollections across interviews, and through the use of external data sources, in order to examine the consistency and veracity of the recollections. These analytical tools were applied in a case study set in the degraded headwaters of the upper Tone River, south-western Australia. Purposeful sampling was used to select seven interviewees with information-rich recollections of the biophysical iv condition of the river commencing prior to extensive clearing in the catchment in the late 1940s. The interview method employed broad, open questions about the ecosystem attributes to avoid pre-determining the content of the interview, and to give participants the freedom to recall what was significant about the river to them. To avoid compromising the triangulation exercises, memory aids were not used. The deliberate non-use of specific and probing questions in the interviews probably reduced the amount and type of detailed information collected, and the capacity to determine its factual accuracy. Amending the interview method would address this issue. Nevertheless, information was collected that was relevant and potentially useful to river restoration, principally in relation to setting goals of importance to local people. Cross-interview analysis corroborated almost 50% of selected recollections across the interviews. An exercise using the results of the cross-interview analysis and identified infonnation sources, found that most of the statements could be corroborated, and therefore increased in evidentiary value. In another independent test of the oral histories, statements were taken from transcripts and given to scientists trained in aspects of restoration ecology. They determined that nearly two-thirds of all statements were capable of being checked for factual accuracy. This study has demonstrated that when oral histories are collected for a particular purpose, there are techniques that can be used to extract and evaluate relevant information. By using a diversity of techniques to assess the veracity of the recollections with significant success, it has also been shown that recollections can be a valuable source of factual information. v Declaration I certify that this thesis does not incorporate without acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution of higher education; and that to the best of my knowledge and belief this does not contain any material previously published or written by a1;1other person except where due reference is made in the text. Signature Date . ;/,]. ~-../t'fJ ...... vi Acknowledgrments I am grateful to my supervisor, Dr Pierre Horwitz, for his keen interest in this project. His guidance and support have been unfailing, and his insightful comments were a source ofjoy! I had the pleasure of interviewing seven people for inclusion in the case study and I thank them for their participation and hospitality: Michael Fryer-Smith, William Harvey, Lawrence (Mick) Lee, Diana Mathew, Chris Owen, David Ryall and Helen Young. I am also grateful to several other members of the Kojonup community, in particular Walter Furniss, Virginia Lee, Gary McQuire, John and Kath Mathwin, and Gres, Ian and Jill Robertson for providing local information. Brenda and Richard Trigwell, and Bill, Phillip and Margaret Scott were of great assistance in the early stages of the project. Drs Luke Pen, Richard Hobbs, Peter M. Davies and Richard George kindly agreed to participate in the evaluation of the data. Luke also provided valuable suggestions during the development of the project. Rycki Maltby gave initial advice about the qualitative research aspects ofthe study. The project benefited from the assistance of numerous people and agencies who contributed information and/or ideas. In particular, I wish to thank Viv Read, Jeff Garbutt, Daniel Wong and Lin Ye of the Water and Rivers Commission; John Dell and Mark Cowan of the WA Museum; Mal Graham of the Department of CALM, Katanning; Gary Fenner of the Valuer General's Office; Greg Beeston of Agriculture WA; Angela Sanders and Greg Harold of Moloch Fauna Consulting; Jan Henry and Ken Youngson of Ninox Wildlife Consulting, the Oral History Unit at the Battye Library; and Stephen Mattingley. vii Special thanks go to Jill and Gres Robertson and Ute Goeft for their support, and also to Nicole Hodgson and Michael Rowe for their help on a number of occasions. Keith Bradby has been a stalwart believer in the project and an invaluable sounding­ board, who deserves my sincerest thanks. He also provided assistance with locating references for the corroboration of the recollections and helpful comments on a draft of the thesis. viii Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE I. INTRODUCTION I 1.1 Background to the study 2 1.2 The significance of the study 3 1.3 The purpose of the study 4 CHAPTER TWO 2. DEVELOPMENT OF ANALYTICAL TOOLS FOR EVALUATING ORAL HISTORIES 6 2.1 Restoration ecology and environrnenta1 history: theory, application and linkages 6 2. I .I Defining restoration ecology and its purpose 7 2.1.2 Defining environmental history 9 2.1.3 Exploring links between restoration and environmental history 9 2.2 Oral history: a review of its use and evaluation in an environmental context 34 2.2.1 Defining oral history 35 2.2.2 Reliability, validity and selectivity of recollections 37 2.2.3 Oral environmental history as a guide to the cultural context of environmental change 40 2.2.4 Oral environmental histories as sources of ecological infonnation 42 2.2.5 Critiquing oral histories for factual accuracy and application to restoration ecology 44 2.3 Triangulation theory and its appl'lcaf1on to oral history 54 CHAPTER THREE 3. METHODOLOGY 59 3.1 Design and data collection 59 3.1.1 Case study background 59 3.1.2 Preparation, theory and practice 63 3 .I .3 Sampling strategy 66 1. ~ .4 Interview method 73 3.1.5 Procedure 78 3.2 Data analysis 82 3.2.1 Overview 82 3.2.2 Application of the oral histories to ecological restoration 84 3.2.3 Evaluating reliability and validity 88 CHAPTER FOUR 4. RESULTS 96 4.1 Assessing the Usefulness of the Oral Histories to Ecological Restoration 96 4.1.1 Relevance and comprehensiveness of the recollections 97 4.1.2 Examining the interviewer's role 113 4.1.3 Assessing the