Needs and pathways for strengthening the contribution of qualitative methods toward more effective impact assessment practice

Walker, Heidi, Sinclair, A. John, Diduck, Alan P., Bond, Alan, Pope, Jenny, Morrison-Saunders, Angus and Retief, Francois P. (2025) Needs and pathways for strengthening the contribution of qualitative methods toward more effective impact assessment practice. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. ISSN 1461-5517

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Abstract

Many jurisdictions are looking to next-generation impact assessment (IA) that includes sustainability considerations that extend beyond biophysical. Subjectivity is inherent in many of these additional impact considerations, and they are often not easily nor effectively quantified. Delivering effective IA within this broadening scope requires new, innovative, and rigorous applications of qualitative methods that enable meaningful inclusion of diverse knowledges, values, and information. While many qualitative methods are available for IA, there remains a significant opportunity to strengthen their contribution toward more effective IA practice. As such, we establish in this paper needs that must be addressed if qualitative methods are to meaningfully contribute to IA and pathways for acting on these needs. Relating findings from a survey, semi-structured interviews, and a world café, the paper specifically identifies six key needs for enhancing the effective use of qualitative methods in IA, and five pathways for addressing these needs that involve all IA actors. We conclude that there are deeply entrenched assumptions about qualitative methods and that shifting these views will be challenging and take time. Together, the identified needs and pathways provide a framework for action to improve the effectiveness of IA and should be considered in IA training and practice.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	impact assessment,qualitative methods,effectiveness,sustainability,next generation,impact assessment,environmental science(all),geography, planning and development,management, monitoring, policy and law,2* ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Social Sciences
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	11 Jun 2025 10:30
Last Modified:	23 Jun 2025 08:32
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/99448
DOI:	10.1080/14615517.2025.2515776

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