The use of mobile methodologies to create more dynamic understandings of space and place is growing in social science research. The overall idea of using walking practice as a method is to observe social phenomena in a given space and gather diverse data (i.e., opinions, spatial locations, or visual data) linked to specific spatial locations¹.

CKC applies walking in social impact assessments to get to know the community, to watch the different social receptors within the Project boundary, to uncover the Project impacts on the community, and to engage with the natural and the social in different ways apart from frequently used methods such as interviews and focus group discussions. Walking is also used as an approach to locate and map the collected data (physical objects, spatial features, and phenomena) with the GPS application.

Let’s take a small backpack, water bottle, raincoat, umbrella, notebook, pencils, camera, and walking shoes to start the “walking” journey for exploring communities.

Photos: CKC members study communities in Buon Ho town, Cu M’gar and Krong Buk districts, Dak Lak province by using walking practice during 24-28 July 2023.

¹ Kowalewski, M. & Bartłomiejski, R. 2020. Is it research or just walking? Framing walking research methods as “non-scientific”. Geoforum 114 (2020) 59.65