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The PelicanWeb's Journal of Sustainable Development
Research Digest on Integral Human Development,
Spirituality, Solidarity, Sustainability, Democracy, Technology, Nonviolence
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Vol. 5, No. 12, December 2009
Luis T. Gutierrez, Editor
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Volume 5 ~ Number 12 ~ Page 1 Annex
This annex contains four items:
The word frequency analysis and synthesis of textual responses for each ESD theme, survey versions 0 to 1.7
An interdependency analysis and synthesis of the ESDs and MDGs loosely based on survey versions 0 to 1.7
An interdependency analysis and synthesis of the ESDs, MDGs, and IHD loosely based on survey versions 0 to 1.7
The updated archive of ESD survey work, with links to all the forms, databases, and reports for versions 0 to 1.7
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Analysis and Synthesis of Text Responses for each ESD Theme,
Versions 0 to 1.7
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Notation:
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CLD = Causal Loop Diagram
DSM = Dependency Structure Method
ESD = Education for Sustainable Development
IHD = Integral Human Development
ISO = International Standards Organization
ISO 9000 = Quality Management System Standard
ISO 14000 = Environmental Management Standard
ISO 26000 = Social Responsibility Guidance (forthcoming 2010)
PSM = Problem Solution Matrix
SD = Sustainable Development
SIC = Standard Industrial Classification
WORDLE = Word Lexical Engine
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Disclaimer: Validation relative to coverage maximization and bias minimization remains TBD.
This progress report shift gears from the numerical analysis of relevance rankings to the analysis of text responses to questions in Versions 0 to 1.7. Specifically, the WORDLE tool is used to do a word frequency analysis of text responses for each ESD theme for the series of versions 0 to 1.7.
WORDLE is a web-based tool for generating "word clouds" from chunks of text. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. Given a chunk of English text, WORDLE first removes all the common English words, and then generates a "cloud" (or collage) of the most frequently used noncommon words. The WORDLE text processing algorithm and software were originally created by Jonathan Feinberg.
In this analysis of survey text responses for each ESD theme, it is assumed that frequency of noncommon words in the text is an indicator of their importance from the perspective of the respondents. The WORDLE analysis for each of the ESD themes was performed by lumping together all the text responses for the theme in all the 2009 test surveys (i.e., V0 to V1.7). The eight ESD themes were the same in all versions, but the questions and answers were different in semantic content and format (select all that apply, select the best answer, enter the answer in your own words), so all the text answers lumped together should provide for a pluralism of views among the 1004 respondents.
Assuming that the most prominent words in the WORDLE images encapsulate the essential ingredients of all the responses, they were used as a basis for synthesis in the form of concise (and carefully nuanced) English paragraphs. All responses were parsed for inclusion of the most prominent words in the WORDLE images. After removal of meaningless responses and duplicates due to respondent selections, especial attention was given to the textual inputs provided by the respondents. When respondent inputs are used verbatim, they are shown in quotes. As this editor would not presume to be objective and unbiased about sustainable development issues, the validity of both analysis and synthesis is indeterminate. A sanity check, and further survey work, is needed in order to ensure that the results reflect maximum coverage of critical issues and minimum bias due to cultural or ideological factors.
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| ESD THEME |
TEXTUAL ANALYSIS |
TEXTUAL SYNTHESIS & ESD APPLICABILITY |
Theme 1 -
Gender Equality |
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
FOR ALL 1004 RESPONSES
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
WITH DUPLICATES REMOVED
Images created using WORDLE |
SYNTHESIS OF THE WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
The following statement is a synthesis of the word frequency analysis:
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Survey results show that a surprising number of respondents are not fully aware of the importance of gender equality for ESD and IHD. Among those who are aware, very few have concrete proposals on how to foster the required cultural change. High ESD priorities: 1. Show the negative social impact of patriarchal structures. 2. Make clear the understanding that gender equity is better for everyone. 3. Make it clear that boys and girls must have the same opportunities for integral human development. 4. Explore ways to withdraw public subsidies from patriarchal institutions (both secular and religious).
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS PERTAINING TO ESD AND IHD
When the duplicate responses are removed, a new word becomes very prominent in the collage: "education."
"Without gender equity/equality, 50% of the population is under- or misrepresented, or spoken for by someone who does not share their experience. Some cultures and institutions don't even have women in mind when they talk about decision making on matters of import."
Some respondents are worried about the controversial nature of this theme, especially in countries where the prevailing religion reinforces inequality.
Many secular institutions are beginning to understand that promoting gender equality is good for the bottom line.
Challenge religious institutions to overcome gender prejudice and/or participate in ESD training to show that their rejection of gender equality is not detrimental to sustainable development.
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Theme 2 -
Health Promotion |
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
FOR ALL 1004 RESPONSES
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
WITH DUPLICATES REMOVED
Images created using WORDLE |
SYNTHESIS OF THE WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
The following statement is a synthesis of the word frequency analysis:
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The majority of respondents assert that health care is both highly desired by everyone and mostly ignored by everyone. Everybody wants to get good health care, but nobody wants to work for it or pay for it. High ESD priorities: 1. Education on the need to stay healthy and the importance of promoting prevention. 2. Discuss how to provide free or affordable health care for poor citizens. 3. Discuss how to increase health care tax exceptions for poor citizens, and decrease them for wealthy citizens.
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS PERTAINING TO ESD AND IHD
When the duplicate responses are removed, the word "education" again becomes visible in the collage, but not so prominently as in the case of gender equality. The words "violence," "access," and "services" become more prominent. The word "promote" becomes significantly more prominent.
"For centuries research and health studies didn't even include women in spite of the obvious fact that their bodies are different form men's. The norm did not acknowledge their presence."
"Use billboards, TV ads, cell phone text messages, schools, religious institutions, any place that gathers the community to promote culturally acceptable and feasible health practices and other public health messages."
"Corruption, incompetence, mismanagement. We know what to do to keep people healthy. They just don't DO it, or their community leaders make it impossible for them to do it."
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Theme 3 -
Environmental Stewardship |
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
FOR ALL 1004 RESPONSES
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
WITH DUPLICATES REMOVED
Images created using WORDLE |
SYNTHESIS OF THE WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
The following statement is a synthesis of the word frequency analysis:
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Practically all respondents expressed awareness about the gravity of the planet's environmental deterioration. Environmental abuse must be reversed to ensure the viability of human civilization. High ESD priorities: 1. Develop educational materials on the environment for all school levels. 2. Show ways to reduce the business practice of treating environmental costs as "externalities" that are not reported as business costs. 3. Show how to formulate tax incentives for businesses that use the "triple bottom line" and use environmental management standards such as ISO-14000.
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS PERTAINING TO ESD AND IHD
No new words emerge when duplicates are removed, i.e., there is tight consensus on the meaning of terms such as "environment" and "environmental justice."
"Promoting environmental stewardship is a cultural, institutional and governmental issue."
"Let go of idealistic transformational goals and focus instead on formulating economic and other incentives to "think green, act green."
There is a "lack of motivation to balance consumption desires with environmental stewardship."
Include environmental education as a required part of the curriculum at all school levels.
"Inculcating environmental values should start at home."
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Theme 4 -
Rural Development |
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
FOR ALL 1004 RESPONSES
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
WITH DUPLICATES REMOVED
Images created using WORDLE |
SYNTHESIS OF THE WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
The following statement is a synthesis of the word frequency analysis:
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Many of the responses show ambivalence about rural development. Some respondents point to the fact that most people already live in urban areas today, and the projections are for the percentage to increase worldwide in the decades ahead. On the other hand, the need to shorten supply chains to save on transportation costs is seldom mentioned. High ESD priorities: 1. Discuss ways to balance allocation of resources (schools, hospitals, leisure, etc.) to rural and urban areas. 2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of producing food within urban areas. 3. Discuss strategies to have more smaller cities so that rural areas are not isolated.
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS PERTAINING TO ESD AND IHD
The word "education" becomes very prominent. This generally refers to education about the value and need for balance between rural and urban areas in terms of access to quality schools and health care.
"Value local cultures and ways of life."
"More people live in urban areas; more damage is done by more people."
"Agricultural subsidies prevent the rural population from reaping fair benefits."
"Access to good and affordable health care in rural areas."
"Commercial dominance of ownership of arable land."
"Depletion of soils and forest resources."
"Lack of good schools and good teachers."
"[Educate] children on the importance of agriculture for sustainable development."
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Theme 5 -
Cultural Diversity |
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
FOR ALL 1004 RESPONSES
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
WITH DUPLICATES REMOVED
Images created using WORDLE |
SYNTHESIS OF THE WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
The following statement is a synthesis of the word frequency analysis:
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All the responses support the idea that cultural diversity fuels both SD and IHD. There is also strong consensus that an appreciation for cultural diversity cannot be taught in courses. Experiencing cultural diversity is required. High ESD priorities: 1. Show historical cases in which cultural diversity was not tolerated, and the consequences. 2. Idem when cultural diversity was tolerated, and the consequences. 3. Idem when cultural diversity was highly valued, and the consequences.
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS PERTAINING TO ESD AND IHD
For the theme of cultural diversity, removing the duplicates leads to a collage in which no words other than "cultural" and "diversity" are prominent. In fact, other words that were prominent before removing the duplicates now recede into the background. It seems that there are no "magic bullets" in fostering an appreciation of cultural diversity.
"Promoting cultural diversity is not the challenge but rather the "appreciation" of cultural diversity that may create difficulty. World views and behavior have influence over the acceptance of cultural diversity."
"The allowance for diverse cultures fuels humanity. Acknowledging and accepting this diversity is critical to sustaining human survival. When groups are forced to become uniform and equal, this diversity is compromised. SD is impeded."
"As students grow older they need to interact with others from an increasingly broader area. Kindergarten children might attend a neighborhood school; older children should attend school with children from a wider and likely more diverse set of race, economic range, belief & value systems."
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Theme 6 -
Peace and Human Security |
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
FOR ALL 1004 RESPONSES
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
WITH DUPLICATES REMOVED
Images created using WORDLE |
SYNTHESIS OF THE WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
The following statement is a synthesis of the word frequency analysis:
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This is widely recognized as the core issue of sustainable development. But it is not widely recognized that peace starts with cross-gender solidarity and security starts with cross-gender security. High ESD priorities: 1. Show how gender discrimination leads to other forms of discrimination and injustice, which in turn lead to both social and environmental injustice. 2. Show how gender violence leads to other forms of violence and war, often disguised as the need for resources and land. 3. Build precedence diagrams that show the root causes that lead to violence.
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS PERTAINING TO ESD AND IHD
In this theme, removing the duplicates does allow some other words to become prominent, notably "social," "environmental," and "justice."
There are several common misconceptions which serve to rationalize the perpetuation of war and violence as the way to settle human and social issues:
- "Humanity has developed over [millennia] in spite of war."
- Thinking that "we all want security, prosperity and health."
- "The media trumpets acts of violence."
- "American-style economic development [is the goal] for all nations."
- "Biased education and coercion provided by religious fanatics."
- "Having predominantly men in charge fosters all of the above."
- Both "neglect of spiritual values" and "religious fanatism."
- "Get people fed, get them connected, and get them educated."
- "The use of violence by entrenched dominant economic interests."
- "The widening gap between the very rich and the very poor."
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Theme 7 -
Sustainable Urbanization |
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
FOR ALL 1004 RESPONSES
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
WITH DUPLICATES REMOVED
Images created using WORDLE |
SYNTHESIS OF THE WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
The following statement is a synthesis of the word frequency analysis:
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As the population of a city (including suburbs) increases arithmetically, the financial and environmental costs increase geometrically. High ESD priorities: 1. Explore concepts for balancing resources between urban and rural areas. 2. Explore ways to incentivize the development of more small cities (<1M, perhaps <500K people). 3. Explore ways to shorten supply chains between cities and between cities and rural areas. 4. Show comparisons of financial and environmental costs of mass transit systems versus individual commuting by car.
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS PERTAINING TO ESD AND IHD
After removing the duplicate answers, the following words become prominent: "transit," "systems," and "area." Could this be in reference to mass transit systems between cities.
Urban development happen more naturally than rural development. The difficulty comes in the control of urbanization to keep the balance between urban and rural from becoming lopsided.
"Cities are rapidly becoming cesspools characterized by huge gaps between the poor and the rich."
Better "planning and control to manage infrastructure and development."
"Suburbs have sucked out resources, people, infrastructure and left cities with poor education facilities, lack of job opportunity for living wage, poor housing stock...cultural opportunities..."
"There is a need for the well educated and well off who move to suburban areas to give back to the inner city and for city planners to develop and promote 'green' city concepts."
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Theme 8 -
Sustainable Consumption |
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
FOR ALL 1004 RESPONSES
WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
WITH DUPLICATES REMOVED
Images created using WORDLE |
SYNTHESIS OF THE WORD FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
The following statement is a synthesis of the word frequency analysis:
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There can be no doubt that excessive consumption (consumerism) is the main observable barrier to sustainable development (and, in particular, IHD) even though deeper (and unobservable) causes drive consumption. High ESD priorities: 1. Convince people that excessive consumption is bad for them and others. 2. Convince people that the extremes of excessive consumption by some and the impossibility of meeting basic human needs by most is a time bomb that will explode. 3. Show how to apply the methods of ecological economics to calculate budgets of sustainable consumption by SIC code.
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS PERTAINING TO ESD AND IHD
When the duplicates are removed, "consumption" becomes even more prominent, and all the other words recede into the background. Consumerism is the bottom line.
"Promoting a global awareness of [the interplay between] consumption, supply and replenishment is essential to sustainable development."
"Even those who are not major consumers because of lack of resources are already tainted by TV knowledge of things they want to have the minute they can. Consumerism is learned behavior and it will take long-term strategies to educate us out of it."
On consumerism: "It is the root of global inequity, few using vastly more than they need, while many survive in hardship. Education on the impacts of consumerism and the benefits of a more sustainable lifestyle is essential and must be based on relevant values linked to global citizenship and not being wasteful."
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INTEGRATION
OF THE
ESDs & MDGs |
Themes of
Education for
Sustainable Development [1]
ESD1 - Gender Equality
ESD2 - Human Health
ESD3 - Environmental Management
ESD4 - Rural Development
ESD5 - Cultural Diversity
ESD6 - Human Security
ESD7 - Sustainable Urbanization
ESD8 - Sustainable Consumption
Millennium Development Goals [2]
MDG1 - Minimize Poverty & Hunger
MDG2 - Universal Education for All
MDG3 - Promote Gender Equality
MDG4 - Reduce Infant Mortality
MDG5 - Improve Maternal Health
MDG6 - Mitigate the HIV Epidemic
MDG7 - Environmental Sustainability
MDG8 - Global Partnership for Dev
NOTES
[1] Sustainable development in this context means growth that does not exceed the capacity of the planet.
[2] The ultimate goal of development is integral human development (IHD).
REFERENCES
Problematics - Engineering and Business Paradigm Architecture, Donald V. Steward, 2009.
COPE: A Method for Developing Explanations, Donald V. Steward, 2004.
An introduction to cause and effect and DSM , Donald V. Steward, 2003.
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SYNTHESIS OF THE ESDs & MDGs
The following matrix integrates the ESDs and MDGs:
This matrix is a concise representation of all the interdependencies between the ESDs, between the MDGs, and between the ESDs and MDGs. The yellow block includes all the ESD themes, which should be integrated together such that every theme includes dependencies on all the other themes; otherwise, the order in which they are listed is not essential. The next block around the diagonal (red) includes MDGs 1, 8, 2, 7, and 3; and includes nested blocks for MDGs 1, 8, 2, and 7 (blue) and MDGs 1 and 8 (green). The lowest block down the diagonal (orange) includes MDGs 4, 5, and 6. The blocks around the diagonal identify the ESDs/MDGs that are tightly coupled and must be resolved together. This block-triangular matrix was derived (using Don Steward's PSM32 software tool) by setting up a 16x16 square matrix -- with the rows and columns being the eight ESDs and the eight MDGs -- and entering marks in those cells for which the column item provides input to the row item. Then the matrix is partitioned via row and column operations so as to identify the blocks of that should be worked out together. The arrows are added to show that there is a feedback loop between ESDs and MDGs as the sustainable development process unfolds.
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SYNTHESIS OF THE ESDs, MDGs, AND IHD
The ESDs and MDGs 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 contribute to IHD. MDGs 4, 5, and 6 allow IHD to happen but do not really make them happen, since they pertain to the bottom layer of Maslow's hierarchy. Therefore, in the context of the interdependency analysis and synthesis of ESDs and MDGs, IHD would fit in between MDG3 and MDG4, as shown in the following 17x17 matrix:
When IHD is inserted in the matrix, and new block (violet background) is created that includes all the ESDs, MDGs 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8, and IHD. For IHD, the critical MDGs are 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 together albeit not necessarily in this order. Conversely, as IHD increases it reinforces these MDGs and all the ESDs. When IHD increases it also decreases infant mortality, maternal mortality, and HIV and other epidemics, which in turn allow the number of people who can potentially attain IHD to increase even more. The core engine for this sustainable development process is the block of IHD and MDGs 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8. ESD is the fuel that allows the sustainable development process to keep moving forward.
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Archive of ESD Survey Forms, Databases, and Reports
The Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) research project is moving forward as a series of surveys to identify the critical issues that sustainable developers must be ready to face. During the year 2009, survey test versions V0 to V1.7 have been posted. The survey is structured around the "key action themes" proposed by UNESCO for the "Decade of Education for Sustainable Development" (2005-2014):
The survey's design is based on:
- Paulo Freire's educational model of recursive questions and answers
- Ken Wilber's integral model of experience, behavior, systems, and cultures
- René Girard's mimetic theory of scapegoating behavior
- Note: For a complete description of the design evolution, click here
The survey of the design is stable. However, the questions still need more work pursuant to an optimal combination of brevity (maximum of 16 questions), neutrality (unbiased questions), and questionnaire coverage of the most critical issues in sustainable development. Thus far the responses have been as follows:
- As of 24 April 2009, 61 persons had taken the V0 test survey.
- As of 27 May 2009, 129 persons had taken the V1 test survey.
- As of 27 June 2009, 263 persons had taken the V1.5 test survey.
- As of 31 July 2009, 513 persons had taken the V1.6 test survey.
- As of 29 August 2009, 36 persons had taken the V1.7 test survey.
Links to the forms, data, and analyses for the initial series of surveys are listed below:
TEST SURVEY VERSION 0 (40 QUESTIONS) - APRIL 2009
TEST SURVEY VERSION 1.0/1.1 (40 QUESTIONS) - MAY 2009
TEST SURVEY VERSION 1.5 (40 QUESTIONS) - JUNE 2009
TEST SURVEY VERSION 1.6 (16 QUESTIONS) - JULY 2009
TEST SURVEY VERSION 1.7 (32 QUESTIONS) - AUGUST 2009
TEST SURVEY VERSIONS 0 TO 1.7 - APRIL TO AUGUST 2009
TEST SURVEY VERSION 2.0 - IN PREPARATION
- ESD 2.0 Consultation Form (TBD 2010)
- ESD 2.0 Consultation Spreadsheet (TBD 2010)
- ESD 2.0 Consultation Summary Report (TBD 2010)
- Analysis of ESD 2.0 Survey Test Data (TBD 2010)
Posting of ESD 2.0 and subsequent surveys to be scheduled as required to support simulation modeling of the transition from consumerism to sustainability
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Page 1 Annex
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