40
the broader context of framing complex sustainability challenges. Three examples
of 2016–2017 projects included palm oil production transition using the multilevel
perspective and a DPSIR scheme, barriers to the change to an organic viticulture
system in California using CLDs and the SES framework, and small scale hydropower development in Nepal, also using the multilevel perspective and
DPSIR. Student group work is presented in a final seminar at the end of the course
where again the project is scrutinized by classmates, mentors, and the instructor.
Furthermore, students deliver a final written group project summary of roughly
eight pages text that is evaluated by the course instructor. The written summary
helps students to further develop writing proficiencies, especially in the area of concise writing.
3.3 The Approaches
3.3.1 Terminology
The terminology used to describe each framing approach can differ. Those presented here go by a number of names including tools, frameworks, schemes, and
techniques all with modest epistemological and definitional differences. In this
chapter, approach is used as an encompassing term. Where appropriate, I also use
the name that each is most often referred to in academic literature. Schemes are
systematic or organized configurations of correlated things; whereas tools are purposive, used as a means of accomplishing some sort of assessment task. Nobel
Laureate Elinor Ostrom (Ostrom 2011) provides some differentiation between the
different descriptive terms used in a hierarchical manner. She describes a framework
as a meta-language, or metatheoretical map (Ostrom and Cox 2010), denoting a
generalized form of theoretical analysis. Theories (e.g. transition theory, rational
choice), on the other hand, are the working assumptions and hypothesized specifications of the framework variables deemed sufficient to provide adequate explanations or diagnoses of social and/or ecological conditions. Related to the above,
models use more targeted assumptions about variables, predictions about the results
of combining these variables using a particular theory.
3.3.2 DPSIR
DPSIR is an analysis scheme for describing cause-effect relationships in connection
with environmental and natural resource management challenges (Bowen and Riley
2003; EEA 1999; Giupponi 2007). DPSIR stands for Driving forces-Pressure-StateImpact-Response; the scheme has been associated significantly with the European
Environment Agency in Copenhagen, Denmark. The intention and the strength of
B. Ness
the broader context of framing complex sustainability challenges. Three examples
of 2016–2017 projects included palm oil production transition using the multilevel
perspective and a DPSIR scheme, barriers to the change to an organic viticulture
system in California using CLDs and the SES framework, and small scale hydropower development in Nepal, also using the multilevel perspective and
DPSIR. Student group work is presented in a final seminar at the end of the course
where again the project is scrutinized by classmates, mentors, and the instructor.
Furthermore, students deliver a final written group project summary of roughly
eight pages text that is evaluated by the course instructor. The written summary
helps students to further develop writing proficiencies, especially in the area of concise writing.
3.3 The Approaches
3.3.1 Terminology
The terminology used to describe each framing approach can differ. Those presented here go by a number of names including tools, frameworks, schemes, and
techniques all with modest epistemological and definitional differences. In this
chapter, approach is used as an encompassing term. Where appropriate, I also use
the name that each is most often referred to in academic literature. Schemes are
systematic or organized configurations of correlated things; whereas tools are purposive, used as a means of accomplishing some sort of assessment task. Nobel
Laureate Elinor Ostrom (Ostrom 2011) provides some differentiation between the
different descriptive terms used in a hierarchical manner. She describes a framework
as a meta-language, or metatheoretical map (Ostrom and Cox 2010), denoting a
generalized form of theoretical analysis. Theories (e.g. transition theory, rational
choice), on the other hand, are the working assumptions and hypothesized specifications of the framework variables deemed sufficient to provide adequate explanations or diagnoses of social and/or ecological conditions. Related to the above,
models use more targeted assumptions about variables, predictions about the results
of combining these variables using a particular theory.
3.3.2 DPSIR
DPSIR is an analysis scheme for describing cause-effect relationships in connection
with environmental and natural resource management challenges (Bowen and Riley
2003; EEA 1999; Giupponi 2007). DPSIR stands for Driving forces-Pressure-StateImpact-Response; the scheme has been associated significantly with the European
Environment Agency in Copenhagen, Denmark. The intention and the strength of
B. Ness