Fostering Involvement—how to improve participation in learning Part I – Report Part II – Case Studies A report for the Cooperative Venture for Capacity Building by Jennifer Andrew, Roland Breckwoldt, Alastair Crombie, Heather Aslin, Dana Kelly and Tanya Holmes July 2005 RIRDC Publication No. 05/105 RPM-2A © 2005 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 1 74151 168 2 ISSN 1440-6845 Fostering Involvement—how to improve participation in learning: Part I Report; Part II Case Studies Publication No. 05/105 Project No. RPM-2A The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable industries. The information should not be relied upon for the purpose of a particular matter. Specialist and/or appropriate legal advice should be obtained before any action or decision is taken on the basis of any material in this document. The Commonwealth of Australia, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, the authors or contributors do not assume liability of any kind whatsoever resulting from any person's use or reliance upon the content of this document. This publication is copyright. However, the Cooperative Venture encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Dr Jennifer Andrew Resource Policy & Management PO Box 4758 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: (02) 6232 6956 Fax: (02) 6232 7727 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4819 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected]. Web : http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in July 2005 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint ii Foreword The Cooperative Venture for Capacity Building for Innovation in Rural Industries (CVCB) aims to build capacity in rural industries to enable more sustainable and competitive industries. Improving rates of adoption of R&D outcomes is a priority and enhancing participation by farmers in a broad range of learning activities is a key component of this. This report delivers initial research on participation by farmers in learning activities. It aims to improve understanding of non-participation in learning activities, to increase the accessibility of learning activities and the involvement of the farming community. It examines factors that inhibit farmers’ participation in learning activities, with a view to developing new processes for encouraging participation, extension and learning It comes in two parts: the report and its accompanying case studies. These case studies should be read in conjunction with Part 1: They provide examples of what is happening in specific areas and industries and what people think about farmers’ participation in learning in a variety of different settings. This study identifies four primary factors influencing participation and these are supported by the case study evidence: • relationships between the learner and the learning ‘environment’ • social and structural factors inhibiting participation • the learning and educational experience of the farmer • situational, institutional and dispositional barriers to participation Finally, the study provides strategies to encourage participation and learning and a guide to increasing participation in learning activities. This report is a result of a flagship project funded by the CVCB. The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation manages the CVCB on behalf of The Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Australian Wool Innovation; Meat & Livestock Australia; Dairy Australia; Land & Water Australia; Murray-Darling Basin Commission; Grains Research and Development Corporation; Sugar Research and Development Corporation; and Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/fullreports/Index.htm purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Peter O’Brien Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii iv Fostering Involvement—how to improve participation in learning Part I – Report v vi Part I Contents Summary ..............................................................................................................................................................ix 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background................................................................................................................................1 1.1.1 Project 2: Fostering Involvement.................................................................................1 1.1.2 The report.....................................................................................................................2 2 The research approach ..........................................................................................................................3 2.1 The underlying assumptions ......................................................................................................3 2.2 The method ................................................................................................................................4 2.2.1 The annotated bibliography .........................................................................................5 2.2.2 The framework of analysis...........................................................................................6 2.2.3 Testing and refining framework...................................................................................6 2.2.4 Case study development and analysis..........................................................................7 2.2.5 Synthesis of findings....................................................................................................8 3 Participation and non-participation in learning..................................................................................9 3.1 Participation, learning and knowledge.......................................................................................9 3.2 Some models, typologies and theories of participation............................................................11 3.2.1 The economic and human capital perspective ...........................................................12 3.2.2 The needs hierarchy theory........................................................................................13 3.2.3 The congruence model...............................................................................................15 3.2.4 Force-field theory and the expectancy–valence approach .........................................15 3.2.5 The chain of response model .....................................................................................17 3.2.6 Life transitions theory................................................................................................18 3.2.7 Reference group theory..............................................................................................20 3.2.8 Social participation ....................................................................................................21 3.2.9 The general activity model.........................................................................................23 3.3 Non-participation .....................................................................................................................24 3.3.1 Barriers to participation .............................................................................................28 3.3.2 Action research ..........................................................................................................34 3.3.3 Participation in what? ................................................................................................36 3.3.4 Industry’s role in participation...................................................................................38 4 Building a framework of participation...............................................................................................40 4.1 Technical participation and learning........................................................................................40 4.2 Experiential participation and learning ....................................................................................41 4.3 Farmer-led participation and learning......................................................................................41 vii 5 Findings.................................................................................................................................................44 5.1 The primary factors relevant to non-participation....................................................................45 5.1.1 The relevance of learning experiences.......................................................................45 5.1.2 Relationships..............................................................................................................46 5.1.3 The view of learning and knowledge.........................................................................46