As per the definition of traditional knowledge it is a knowledge which is transferred orally through generations but the basic question is how to measure the transfer rate and when to consider it intact, eroded or eroding fast/slow. What percent of knowledge should be their in different age classes and age groups. Are there any studies which suggest the solution for it. What should be the correct pattern. I would also appreciate if anyone could forward me papers on traditional knowledge indicators.
Thanks in advance
Naveen
I think, measuring the rate of transfer of traditional knowledge require very long time. First we have to document the knowledge person/s have. Then to whom they have transferred or in what mode. Then we can estimate to very limited extent. Because the rate of transfer also depends upon the mode of transfer. Anything which is in the form of a written document can be available to others and survive for long time. So documentation of traditional knowledge is need of the hour. The information can be collected by selecting the respondents of particular area/ age group/profession/ etc.
I think that the best method of measurement is called quantitative ethnobotany you have to calculate several indices which is described in different papers in journals which the topic is the alternative and complentary medicine and etbnopharmacology.
Dear Amel I shall be thankful to you if you could forward/suggest me some of the papers which calculate the health status of traditional knowledge in a community
Thanks in advance
You may be interested in research from Victoria Reyes-Garcia, Marsha B. Quinlan, and Rebecca K. Zarger, and other ethnobotanists. All of these mentioned researchers look at TK transmission, and would be a good starting point for a lit review. Looking for a “healthy” rate of transmission is pretty subjective. But, you may find more about whether certain modes of transmission are conservative or not, cultural consensus and consonance (all good search terms).
You may estimate Knowledge Richness Index (KRI) and Knowledge Sharing Index (KSI) for the studied community at different age groups which may give a picture of distribution and richness of specific knowledge among different generations within a community.
You may may go through the paper entitled " A new technique for testing distribution of knowledge and to estimate sampling sufficiency in ethnobiology studies” in which the authors tried to estimate KRI and KSI for a rural community in northeastern Brazil. They described how these two indices help in determining uniqueness, richness and patterns of knowledge sharing in different aspects or used categories within the individual members of the community. They also described very clearly how these two indices can be calculated. Hope, this may help you to get answer of your question.
As it is precised you have also to know the statistical methods, and choose the correct test. With bivariate and multivariate methods you can measure the dependance of each index that you measure and the influence in each catgeory of age.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Mathematics