In recent years, ecologists have embraced the human dimensions of their discipline and expanded their remit to explore issues traditionally addressed by the social sciences and environmental humanities. This expansion offers opportunities to engage with diverse methodologies, some of which challenge the orthodoxies of conservation research; however, ecologists do not have the expertise to use social science methodologies in their work. In this Toolkit, we outline ways to improve social-ecological research and outcomes through partnerships with qualitative researchers. Ecologists – who lack the epistemological and methodological preparation needed for productive qualitative or mixed methods study design – have often used quantitative methods to investigate social-ecological systems. Though this has enhanced our ecological knowledge and led to the development of evidence-based conservation practices, the biodiversity crisis continues to worsen as a result of human behaviours. Qualitative inquiry offers powerful insights into the drivers of social and behavioural phenomena but remains under-represented in ecological research despite its broadening demographic. This presents a substantial missed opportunity that warrants rectifying. Here, we outline the qualitative research paradigm and highlight its benefits to ecology and ecologists. We also discuss a range of pitfalls and caveats ecologists encounter by not using appropriate qualitative research designs to support the exploration of their questions. We conclude by providing guidance for ecologists who intend to conduct research embracing qualitative or mixed paradigm designs. In order to address the human dimensions of ecology and conservation, it is essential to engage qualitative experts within and beyond the ecological science community. When fruitful collaborations form, research teams are able to approach some of ecology's most challenging problems from new perspectives, incorporating the views and knowledge of stakeholders on whom we rely for success.

中文翻译：

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与定性研究人员合作，共同设计社会生态研究

近年来，生态学家已经接受了他们学科的人文维度，并扩大了他们的职权范围，以探索传统上由社会科学和环境人文学科解决的问题。这种扩展提供了使用多种方法的机会，其中一些方法挑战了保护研究的正统观念；然而，生态学家不具备在工作中使用社会科学方法的专业知识。在本工具包中，我们概述了通过与定性研究人员合作来改善社会生态研究和成果的方法。生态学家——缺乏生产性定性或混合方法研究设计所需的认识论和方法论准备——经常使用定量方法来研究社会生态系统。尽管这增强了我们的生态知识并导致了循证保护实践的发展，但由于人类行为，生物多样性危机继续恶化。定性调查为社会和行为现象的驱动因素提供了强有力的见解，但尽管其人口结构不断扩大，但在生态研究中的代表性仍然不足。这代表了一个需要纠正的重大错失机会。在这里，我们概述了定性研究范式并强调了它对生态学和生态学家的好处。我们还讨论了生态学家在不使用适当的定性研究设计来支持他们的问题探索时遇到的一系列陷阱和警告。最后，我们为打算进行定性或混合范式设计研究的生态学家提供指导。为了解决生态和保护的人文层面，必须聘请生态科学界内外的定性专家。当富有成果的合作形成时，研究团队能够从新的角度解决生态学中一些最具挑战性的问题，结合我们成功所依赖的利益相关者的观点和知识。