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Bikes, trains and problem frames: framing the Little River Rail Trail : a dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters [i.e. Master] in [i.e. of] Applied Science (IRD) at Lincoln University
Bikes, trains and problem frames: framing the Little River Rail Trail : a dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters [i.e. Master] in [i.e. of] Applied Science (IRD) at Lincoln University
Brown, S. E.
Brown, S. E.
Date
2008
Type
Dissertation
Fields of Research
Abstract
Problem framing is an analysis that has been widely applied in the field of environmental
management. It is a way of investigating the diverse ways in which different stakeholders
view, or frame, a problem or issue. Moreover, a framing analysis conceptualises problems as
socially constructed as well as objective realities and therefore analyses how stakeholders
communicate discursively about the same issue. There are many similarities between
environmental management and development management, in particular, the diverse range of
involved parties, each of whom have different levels of power and different interests. For this
reason, this research applies a problem framing analysis to a community development project.
The project focussed on the Little River Rail Trail, which is currently being developed on
Banks Peninsula. The research looked in particular at how participants talked about the Rail
Trail and how this related to their particular frames of reference. Moreover, the research
investigated which ‘frames’ were privileged, and which excluded, and how frames were
managed by the participants. The results showed that the different participants framed the
Rail Trail in very different ways. Moreover, whilst there were dominant frames that occurred
across a range of participants, there were other frames that were marginalised. It was also
found that participants used a range of frame management strategies in order to manage
competing or oppositional frames. The framing analysis provided a useful and holistic
investigation of the LRRT that was contextual and flexible enough to tolerate a high level of
diversity. Thus, it indicates that the framing analysis may help development professionals to
better appreciate the diversity of frames present in particular projects, issues and problems
and, in particular, be more aware of the discursive power functioning within these contexts.
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