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Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research

An empirical comparison of knowledge and skill in the context of traditional ecological knowledge

Authors: Eric P Kightley, Victoria Reyes-García, Kathryn Demps, Ruth V Magtanong, Victoria C Ramenzoni, Gayatri Thampy, Maximilien Gueze, John Richard Stepp

Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

We test whether traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) about how to make an item predicts a person’s skill at making it among the Tsimane’ (Bolivia). The rationale for this research is that the failure to distinguish between knowledge and skill might account for some of the conflicting results about the relationships between TEK, human health, and economic development.

Methods

We test the association between a commonly-used measure of individual knowledge (cultural consensus analysis) about how to make an arrow or a bag and a measure of individual skill at making these items, using ordinary least-squares regression. The study consists of 43 participants from 3 villages.

Results

We find no association between our measures of knowledge and skill (core model, p > 0.5, R 2  = .132).

Conclusions

While we cannot rule out the possibility of a real association between these phenomena, we interpret our findings as support for the claim that researchers should distinguish between methods to measure knowledge and skill when studying trends in TEK.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
An empirical comparison of knowledge and skill in the context of traditional ecological knowledge
Authors
Eric P Kightley
Victoria Reyes-García
Kathryn Demps
Ruth V Magtanong
Victoria C Ramenzoni
Gayatri Thampy
Maximilien Gueze
John Richard Stepp
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1746-4269
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-71

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