Masters Dissertation Example

3. Methodology 
3.1 Introduction to methodology 
The issues outlined in the previous chapter are important in determining how best to influence 
conservation action, but have not yet been put into context by empirical analysis of the factors 
that facilitate implementation of research findings in conservation. There has been little 
assessment of whether publishing in the literature is an appropriate form of dissemination, 
what forms of dissemination facilitate uptake, and if dissemination rather than research type is 
even the issue in the perceived lack of evidence based conservation. Indeed, there has been 
little analysis of whether peer reviewed research is providing the information required in 
conservation action, and if it is being implemented in the areas most needed. To add to this, 
much of the discussion of the mismatch between researchers and practitioners, in particular the 
advocacy debate, is based on comments and editorials rather than quantitative analysis. 
All of the studies to date have addressed the issue from either the viewpoint of the researchers, 
or from an institutional perspective. This study will assess the issues introduced above by 
approaching the topic from both angles; through author perceptions as to the levels of 
implementation of their research, and through conservation practitioner interviews. 
Firstly, an author survey of species-based research across five major conservation journals will 
address author perceptions as to the level of implementation of their research findings. 
Previous studies have addressed this using research from a single conservation journal, but a 
study by France & Rigg (1998) has proven there to be journal level differences in the type of 
research published, and it is therefore necessary to take a multiple journal approach to gain a 
sample adequate for assessing the conservation impact of research published in the scientific 
literature. Similarly, journals are often judged by their Impact Factor (Thomson Scientific, 
2006)
gained from an assessment of individual article citations over certain time periods, and 
it would be interesting to assess whether these indices have any real world application in terms 
of the utility of the research.
Secondly, interviews with conservation practitioners at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust 
will ensure a more rounded assessment of the issue, establishing whether those who 

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implement conservation action on the ground make use of the research published in the 
literature. Quantitative and qualitative research has been conducted in this area in the USA, 
UK, and Australia (Pullin & Knight, 2005; Sutherland et al, 2004); and in the design of action 
plans for particular species (Clark et al 2002; Boersma et al, 2001), but not with a selection of 
practitioners working in conservation in less developed countries. 
This study will therefore examine the link between scientific research and application in 
conservation. The next important step, to determine the impact of a conservation action, 
requires monitoring of the situation (fig. 1) and is beyond the scope of this study. It cannot be 
concluded that there is always a direct or even definite correlation between the use of 
scientific research and conservation ‘success’, however you choose to define the latter. 
Information applicable to one situation may not be applicable to the other, and the research 
findings need to be applied according to context. However, it cannot be denied that 
conservation action based upon a solid research framework has better chances of success 
(taken in this case to mean an improvement in the conservation status of the species or 
system), as this allows for more informed decision making (Reid & Mace, 2003). This much is 
intuitive and as such it is legitimate, if not fundamental, to look at the process of conservation 
action as well as the outcome; particularly as this arguably provides the most insight into the 
mechanisms of conservation practice