Structured Mental Model Approach for Analyzing Perception of Risks to Rural Livelihood in Developing Countries 英文参考文献.docVIP

Sustainability 2010, 2, 1-29; doi:10.3390/su2010001 OPEN ACCESS sustainability ISSN 2071-1050 /journal/sustainability Article Structured Mental Model Approach for Analyzing Perception of Risks to Rural Livelihood in Developing Countries Claudia R. Binder 1,2,?,* and Regina Sch?ll 1,? 1 Social and Industrial Ecology, Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland 2 Institute of Systems Sciences, Innovation and Sustainability Research, University of Graz, Merangasse 18, A-8010 Graz, Austria; E-Mail: regina.schoell@geo.uzh.ch ? These authors contributed equally to this work. * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: claudia.binder@geo.uzh.ch; Tel: +41-44-635-5262; Fax: +41-44-635-6848. Received: 11 November 2009 / Accepted: 21 December 2009 / Published: 24 December 2009 Abstract: This paper presents the Structural Mental Model Approach aimed at understanding differences in perception between experts and farmers regarding the various livelihood risks farmers are confronted with. The SMMA combines the Sustainable Livelihood Framework with the Mental Model Approach and consists of three steps: (i) definition and weighting of different livelihood capitals; (ii) analysis of livelihood dynamics, and (iii) definition of the social capital by means of agent networks. The results provide a sound basis for the design of sustainable policy interventions such as communication and viewpoints. and educational programs which consider farmers? priorities Keywords: mental models; sustainable rural livelihood; livelihood risks of farmers; developing countries 1. Introduction This paper provides a methodological approach to analyzing differences in risk perception between farmers and experts in developing countries. The approach combines the Sustainable Livelihood  Sustainability 2010, 2 2 Framework (SLF) [1]