Embrace the Wild

*DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG WAS CREATED FOR OUTD 2511, LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. THE OPTIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN IDEAS AND NOT THOSE OF LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THIS BLOG.*

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Surveys for Fun

*DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG WAS CREATED FOR OUTD 2511, LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. THE OPTIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN IDEAS AND NOT THOSE OF LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THIS BLOG.*

Prompt: “Find an online survey/questionnaire/quiz that you can participate in (it does not need to be a formal) and complete it – the quality and honesty of your responses is up to you... what we want to hear about is the actual quality of the survey. Do not select a formal, credible questionnaire that will actually lead to a diagnosis as those are often very scrupulous in their wording and have already been vetted extensively. Please critically evaluate the survey/questionnaire/quiz (please provide us with the link to the page where you found it). What is the context? How well are the questions written? Might there be variety/ambiguity in the responses that lead to poor results? What are some strengths and weaknesses? How might it be improved (accessibility, wording, length, promotion, etc.). Please reference the course notes, the textbook, and the article itself. Remember, I expect you to be demonstrating a robust understanding of the course material at this point in time!” (Provided by: Amanda Hooykaas)

Answer:

I took a survey that the quality of it wasn’t great, the survey was a This or That (Names). The context of the quiz was to see which name you preferred when it came to similar “male” or “female” names like “Bess, Tess, or Jess” or “Roy or Troy”. The questions were simple and not complicated, they got to the point of the survey. The survey could result in poor information because the names asked in the survey don't reach a very diverse community. Its strength is that the questions are simple as well as the answers. Its weaknesses are that the names aren’t diverse and don’t have any cultural significance, they are generally used for white people. I think it could be improved if the survey added some names that weren’t “Olive or Olivia”. I think it could also add some names that are gender fluid like Alex or Andy, which aren't all that diverse but they are gender fluid names. I think if the author of the survey put in some effort to research names of other cultures it could make the survey better and reach a more diverse audience. The survey does however try to get quantitative information on which name people would prefer, but it doesn’t try to get qualitative information. This is due to the lack of diversity in the names but the amount of names in the survey. I think that if you’re going to do a survey just for fun, you should expect to see names that you recognize from your lifestyle. It’s hard to gain good enough information from a survey if you can’t reach many or all perspectives. 

Reference:

Tigerlily7129. (n.d.). This or That? Names. quotev.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022, from https://www.quotev.com/quiz/14716243/This-or-That-Names/result

[mloutd2511]

Ontario to Lift the Vaccine Passport Mandate

*DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG WAS CREATED FOR OUTD 2511, LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. THE OPTIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN IDEAS AND NOT THOSE OF LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THIS BLOG.*

Prompt: “Find a written article (newspaper, magazine, etc.) from this past week and critically evaluate it (please provide us with the link – topic is yours to choose). What was the key message? What might their sources have been? (Suggest sources if there aren't any provided.) How might they have been evaluated? How were they validated/verified (which techniques were used/could have been used)? What expectations/responsibilities might the consumer have in reviewing this article? Please reference the course notes, the textbook, and the article itself. Remember, we expect you to be demonstrating a robust understanding of the course material at this point in time!” (Provided by: Dr. Amanda Hooykaas)

Answer: 

When searching for an article to read this week, I stumbled upon an article about Doug Ford lifting the mandate in Ontario stating you no longer need to provide proof of vaccination as of March 1st 2022 (Ontario to Lift Vaccine Passport in March). Granted this decision came from the Chief of Medicine Dr. Kieran Moore, I still don’t trust that it has served its purpose just yet, especially since the mandate for the QR Codes has only been in place a little over a month. Yes, 92% of the population has been double vaccinated in Ontario but right now with the current state of the world I don’t believe it is the best decision. The article goes on to state that the booster shot will be officially available to those 12-17 on Friday, which is a reason to keep the Vaccine Passport mandate open because the whole population of Vaccinated Ontarians haven’t been boosted yet. The booster shot is important because just like every vaccine that you receive you’ll need multiple doses to keep yourself and others protected from those ailments. For example, you need to get a different flu shot every year because there are different variants of the flu every year, just like how covid has different variants. Proving that you are vaccinated, provides a certain level of safety for customers especially since over a million people have died from this illness. The Vaccine Passport allows customers solace in a very scary time, but not just for them, for the people that work in those facilities as well. The article goes on to state that this will only happen provided that the numbers of covid cases improve. It also states that it is not in response to the “freedom” convoy, but with it’s timing of when this announcement came out, how can it not be? People are entitled to any opinion that they want about the convoy, but at the end of the day it’s just about an excuse for people to wave their white nationalist flag. 

The key message here is to provide Ontario Citizens with updates of the covid phases we are going through and what may be in our Provinces future. The source that CTV is using is Doug Ford's conference and Dr. Kieran Moore, as well as other articles listed in this article. Including one where Trudeau was in talks with provinces about instating emergency powers, which as we know now has happened. The additional articles I believe were provided to allow easy access to more of what is going on in our country. These sources were evaluated using quotes from the Premier and Moore, additionally they made sure that the information was condensed down so that it is easy to read and understand. They made sure they had qualitative research over quantitative so that it is not overwhelming to any reader. Readers of this article can expect that the Passport mandate might be lifted if the numbers are improving, it is also the readers responsibility to stay informed on what changes apply to their province. The writer of this article, Katherine DeClerq, verified this information through the Premiers conference on Monday, February 14th, 2022. We know this because the conference is live and accessible to the whole country. 

Reference:

DeClerq, K. (2022, February 14). Ontario to Lift Vaccine Passports in March, Next Phase of COVID-19 Reopening. CTV News. Retrieved February 14, 2022, from https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-to-lift-vaccine-passport-in-march-next-phase-of-covid-19-reopening-to-begin-early-1.5780257 

[mloutd2511]

*DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG WAS CREATED FOR OUTD 2511, LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. THE OPTIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN IDEAS AND NOT THOSE OF LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THIS BLOG.*

Prompt: “No prompt this week -- free write what you are thinking about” (Provided by: Dr. Amanda Hooykaas)

Answer: 

Honestly at the moment, all I can think about is school. There’s not much room left in my brain for other things, which is very overwhelming. No matter how much I complete, whether it’s an assignment, studying for a test, or playing catch up it seems like the work never ends. I want a week where I don’t have to think, where I can just sleep, cuddle with my cat, and watch tv. I don’t think it’s zoom class burnout, I’m just coming to the point where I need a brain break. Even though reading week is coming up, the whole time I’ll be hunched over my laptop and textbook for the most part. The other parts, I’ll be at work busting my butt for a paycheck. So there’s no smidgen of a break until some time in April. I know I’m just complaining but there’s a point to my madness I promise and I’m getting to it. 

Within all this stress, I still feel very lucky and happy to be able to get this education. Right now I find myself in the position where this coming summer I'll be the Program Director at the camp I grew up going to. It’s so weird that I finally get to use the knowledge that I’ve gained over the last two years. It put back into perspective why I’m doing this, before this semester started I really questioned if I was in the right place. So all the thoughts of “I’m not good enough” really changed to “I can do this!”. Even being overwhelmed isn’t so overwhelming anymore, I’m sure that doesn’t make sense but it does to me. 

Before this program, my love for outdoor recreation came from camp. I met some of my best friends there, especially when I went through the CIT program. Some of which I still keep in contact with, others have drifted, but that’s life. There’s no rule saying you have to stay friends with anyone, especially friends you make when you’re really young. CIT was an amazing program and it’s an education that I am extremely grateful I took part in. So with that being said, I’ve also been thinking about where I want to take this education. I’ve always said that I wanted to open my own camp but I’ve come to realize that the position that it would put me in could potentially keep me from doing what I love, which is programming. It would keep me from it because I would mainly focus on admin, staffing, billings, etc. I’d want a position that involves admin and staffing but also programming, I don’t want to stress if the camp is going to go under.

[mloutd2511]

Agafia Lykov: Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness

*DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG WAS CREATED FOR OUTD 2511, LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. THE OPTIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN IDEAS AND NOT THOSE OF LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THIS BLOG.*

Prompt: “Outline the case study (who, what, where, when, why, how). Identify the research techniques being employed - to the best of your ability at this point in the term. Determine the invisible backpack of the documentary filmmaker - as best you can. Comment on whether this is directly identified or somehow noted in the film. Describe some key ethics considerations that were made in the production of this film and how they might have been addressed.

‘If you were given the same opportunity (to both research the family and communicate your findings to a larger audience of peers), how would you approach this research assignment? Outline your own identity and “who” you are as a student researcher approaching this topic. What are some key ethical considerations you might have and how might you address them?” (Prompt provided by Dr. Amanda Hooykaas).

Answer: *Trigger Warning: Mention of Assault*

In this study, Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years, a producer from VICE America, John Martin and an editor from VICE Russia, Gleb Lisichkin ventured out into the Mountains of Sayan in Taiga, Siberia. John Martin, not only took a 10 hour flight but another plane and a helicopter trip into the Mountains – hiking is not an option for these parts in winter. Why? For a woman named Agafia Lykov, who had lived in these Mountains at the time of the study for seventy years. This study took place in 2013. Her family, before the second world war, escaped those who were after the old believers. The old believers were a group of people who were an ultra-orthodox sect of christianity, just before the war Stalin was after them. Many of these old believers still exist today but only in small communities. Agafia was born in these Mountains in 1944 and from the time her family arrived in the Mountains it had been forty years until they had a visitor. When they did, shortly afterwards the three eldest children died from complications from pneumonia. Life for the Lykovs, was difficult with barely having any food to get by Agafia’s mother died in 1961 due to starvation because there wasn’t enough food for both her and her children. 

At this point in the term, I believe that the research conducted in this study is qualitative research. John Martin and Gleb Lisichkin both took the time and effort into making sure that Agafia’s life story was heard. That the struggles she and her family had endured were told in dignity, these researchers took their time to respect Agafia and her way of life, they even brought her a goat and chicken as gifts. I believe that even if it wasn’t stated in the film that it was the intent to perform a qualitative study on Agafia. I think that the ethics behind this research were done in respect to Agafia, especially when it came to speaking on the relationship between her and Yerofei.

What I noticed from the film is that Agafia still held sadness and fear from the past experience with Yerofei, her neighbour. I think that if the researchers had more information on the situation, I think they left it out on purpose, not for Yerofei but for Agafia. Even though they are extremely excluded from technology and the modern world, Agafia seemed as though she still harboured a lot of fear towards Yerofei, despite his physical disabilities. When a person has gone through, what seemed to be an implied assault, the assaulters abilities don’t protect the victims from their own minds. Additionally, Agafia is too kind to let the man rot, her generous heart is what keeps Yerofei alive in the conditions they live in. When it came to the ethics of revealing to the world what may have happened all those years ago, I think they respected Agafias’ right to make her own decisions on reporting the matter. Although she grew up not having access to law enforcement to help her with the situation because they are about 160 miles from the nearest town, access would have been limited due to the harsh environment. Not to mention, that the assault may not have been taken seriously by law enforcement, especially in the time period it occurred.

I think as a student researcher, I may have approached or at least tried to approach it the same way John Martin and Gleb Lisichkin did. However, I would also take into consideration that when most outsiders come, illness is quick to follow because of how isolated she is from the germs in larger communities, her immune system may not be as developed as mine. As a researcher, I try to remain respectful to those who are participating. Respect for others is a large part of my own personal ethics and try to bring that to everything I do, therefore, I bring this to my research. I would apply this by not digging deeper than it seems the participant can handle regardless of my own desire towards the answer. Doing something that would make the participant uncomfortable would be disrespectful towards their life experience and their autonomy. 

Reference:

VICE. (2013, April 9). Surviving in the siberian wilderness for 70 years (full length). YouTube. Retrieved January 20, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt2AYafET68

[brcjoutd-2511]

TW: Response to mentions of assault

Hi Meg, your blog is very respectful and insightful. I could not help but to think of what a sad life Agafya has lived, and of how selfish Yerofei is. I think that even his presumption that she would want a man who was part of the reason her siblings died to live with her in the first place is horrible and unforgivable, and that is without even speaking of the other things he did to her. I agree with you that her heart of gold really shines through in her continued care of him. I saw in the comments of the video that he died, and looked it up. He passed away in 2015. I hope that Agafya now has some solace in her true solitude, aside from the visits from park rangers. 

[mloutd2511]

TW: Slight mention of assault

Hey Brenton,

I’m glad to hear that Agafia is starting have some peace after he died. It really sucks, that she had to care for a man who caused so much trauma towards her family. I can’t imagine the heartache it caused her to do that, especially -- like you said -- he’s part of why her eldest siblings died. If I’m honest, it gives me some peace knowing he died, as a feminist when I saw her taking care of the man who assaulted her my heart broke. No one should go through that additional trauma.

[mloutd2511]

The Effect of Summer Camps on The Communities They Reside In

*DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG WAS CREATED FOR OUTD 2511, LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. THE OPTIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN IDEAS AND NOT THOSE OF LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THIS BLOG.*

Prompt: “If you were to conduct research as a graduate student with limitless resources (but you still require ethics approval!), describe your ultimate research project. What would be the focus (it could be anything!)? How might you propose it? Who might it benefit? Shine a “light” on you as a researcher a decade from now.” (Provided by: Dr. Amanda Hooykaas)

Answer: 

I think my ultimate research project would have to be the effects of summer camps on the communities that they are a part of. Meaning the towns that they reside in. I would want to research this because I grew up going to a small camp, just North of Parry Sound in McDougal. I saw how important this camp is to the community especially when the most campers it has had has been 75. Which in comparison to other larger camps is small, especially at camps where you don’t know all of the staff either. Most of the people I went to camp with came from Parry Sound, or people whose parents did extensive research on camps to send their kids to. I have a huge curiosity in how these camps affect the community, especially in small communities like McDougal. From what I’m aware of with my camp, it affects it greatly, my now boss always sees and talks to the campers who return each summer and it seems as though it’s like a second school to these campers. 

The focus of the research would be mostly the campers who go to the camps, especially over the course that they attend the camp. I would take into consideration the age range the camp allows the campers to go to, from there I would research the effect, good or bad, it has had. I think the community would benefit from it, especially parents who are wondering where to send their kids in the summer. I would propose it to an REB to help them understand the need and the ethics behind the research. I would take into consideration that campers are usually under age of consent and would definitely figure out the best ways possible where it wouldn’t impose on the campers autonomy. As for right now, I’m not entirely sure how, but I would definitely consult an advisor who knows more about ethical research than I do. 

The course of my research, depending on the age range of the camp, I know my camp goes from 4-16. The research would last about 10-12 years, looking into how it adds to their developmental process and the community they reside in. Whether that’s crime rates or just the development of the community itself. Whether that development has improved the community or not. 

I would propose it by stating that the purpose of the research would be to look into the benefits that small camps have toward the communities they reside in and those outside them, especially for the campers who do overnight camping. Who I want to be as a researcher, who always takes into account human dignity, consent, and whether I feel comfortable with the information that I’ve been given. I think that it’s an important aspect to consider if you want to continue with the research, if you think that it’s information that people of the community need to know. I think if there’s a certain aspect of safety towards the participant then there is an obligation to report it. 

I think any research that involves children should been done where you tread lightly, especially since they are minors and are therefore considered vulnerable. 

[ryantanoutd2511]

Hi Meg,

This is an amazing work. I like your idea of putting in attention to the place where you grew up and looking forward to dedicate something back to make it better. It is seemingly a first option for many Canadians to spend time in outdoors activities, and thus it’s a good idea to start from this. Research on the pros and cons of the camp and further find out solutions that constitute to the change, the well-being of the community, such as in its economy. Having preservation on the local ecological integrity is a way to attract visitors, and with more visitors comes with thrive in the economy and tourism. With this sequence a positive loop is form and continue getting better with time.

It is essential as you mentioned, requesting assistance from a REB expert will help and avoid ahead related potential conflicts if the research involves human subjects. A good beginning for the proceeding steps. In the other hand, I was assuming in some cases you may not need consent from young participants’ parents and/or guardians, but perhaps the degree of risk is none or low as acceptable to the participants. Although recommended to consult for professional answer from authorities.

At last, impressive intention and I am sure you can do it one day.

[mloutd2511]

Hey Ryan,

I really like what you said about preserving local ecological integrity. If I ever do this research project, that’ll certainly be a factor that I take into account. It is a notable factor to how camps effect communities, our carbon footprint is so important to keep track of. It’s not something I originally thought of in my process of brainstorming this blog post. I really appreciate your input on the topic I chose. As for the consent of young participants, I’m not sure how that’ll go over because working with children always presents many risk factors. It’ll have to for sure been done very cautiously and always consulting an REB when certain risks arise.

Thank you!

[tgoutd2511]

My Research Project: long term effects of nature based therapy

Prompt:

If you were to conduct research as a graduated student with limitless resources (but you still require ethics approval!), describe your ultimate research project. What would be the focus (it could be anything!)? How might you propose it? Who might it benefit? Shine a light on “you” as researcher a decade from now

Response:

If I had limitless resources as a graduate student, I would want to research the long-term effects of nature based therapeutic experiences on physical and mental wellbeing.

I have been interested in this subject for quite some time but was recently inspired by Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods explaining his concept of ‘nature deficit disorder’ and its prevalence in today’s society. I believe this research project would help shine a light on the concept of nature deficit disorder and help lead people towards possible solutions to the problem. My hope is that it would help shift people’s perception of nature, influence schools to prioritize the amount of quality time students spend outdoors and normalize therapeutic practices in children and young adults to improve mental and physical wellbeing. I also hope this project would encourage others to research the subject in the future and incorporate its findings into their day-to-day life.

In terms of logistics, it would ideally take place over a 5 – 10 year period depending on the willingness of the participants over time. Participants would have to opt-in to the research project and continue to give consent throughout, knowing they can quit at any time. The project would run for 10 years if enough participants stay involved in the project. Since I have limitless resources, I would have three groups of participants for this project. The first group would be the control group and would not be influenced in any way despite collecting data in all the same ways. The second group would participate in regular nature therapy sessions and various experiences that incorporate effective therapeutic practices in a natural environment. It would also involve vital debriefing sessions with help from outdoor and mental health professionals to incorporate their teachings into their day-to-day life. As for the third group, they would partake in exactly half of the guided experiences in nature and consultations with professionals. Each group will have a diverse set of participants from various ages and backgrounds, with a common goal of improving their mental and physical health through nature.  

In regard to research methods, I would utilize both qualitative and quantitative research methods to gather information throughout the project. The majority of the research would come from qualitative methods such as interviews, self assessments, journaling components, and professional logs/reports. The self reporting would be a huge part of the study as self perception over time would be an important component to track in terms of mental well being over time. The logs from psychologists and other professionals involved would be vital to the study as well, but it all relies on the honesty and openness of the participants to self report/journal their experience. The textbook states that “techniques for quantitative data collection include experiments, surveys, content analysis, and existing statistics” (Neuman, 2017, p16). I would try and utilize all four components in my study to maximize findings. Since there is already some research in other parts of the world on this topic, existing statistics can be studied and compared with our findings of Canadians. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods would be necessary to get the most out of this study.

References:

Louv, R. (2013). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Atlantic Books.

Neuman, W. L., Robson, K. (20170102). Basics of Social Research (Canadian Edition),  4th Edition. [[VitalSource Bookshelf version]].  Retrieved from vbk://9780134649078

Song, C., Ikei, H., & Miyazaki, Y. (2016). Physiological Effects of Nature Therapy: A Review of the Research in Japan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(8), 781. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13080781

[mloutd2511]

Hey Tait,

I’ve always loved the possibilities nature based therapy can provide to people with mental illness. As a person who struggles with mental illness and a person who’s in Outdoor Recreation, I see the benefits it can have. However, 10 years seems like a lot to commit to even if there’s the option to opt-out. 5-7 years seems like it may be more realistic and it can still provide substantial information to the research. As someone who has gone through extensive therapy on and off, 10 years is a lot, even within over a year and a half I’ve seen a lot of growth within myself. If you’re wanting it to be 10 years worth of nature based therapy, that would also be fairly realistic in my opinion. From the sessions I’ve had, it can be very draining to look at your life and the trauma that you’ve experienced. I think it’s important to remember that therapy may be consistent, therapy can last forever, but it also may not be consistent even within 5 years. Life has a lot to unpack and I think it’s important to remember that, especially when considering researching any form of therapy regarding their benefits. I think it may be beneficial to focus on certain people that you’re researching and keep up to date with their therapy status. Whether they are in the moment in therapy or not, life takes us in many routes, including ones where a break from any form of therapy is necessary.

Thank you for your input,

Meg

[mloutd2511]

The Effect of Summer Camps on The Communities They Reside In

*DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG WAS CREATED FOR OUTD 2511, LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. THE OPTIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN IDEAS AND NOT THOSE OF LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THIS BLOG.*

Prompt: “If you were to conduct research as a graduate student with limitless resources (but you still require ethics approval!), describe your ultimate research project. What would be the focus (it could be anything!)? How might you propose it? Who might it benefit? Shine a “light” on you as a researcher a decade from now.” (Provided by: Dr. Amanda Hooykaas)

Answer: 

I think my ultimate research project would have to be the effects of summer camps on the communities that they are a part of. Meaning the towns that they reside in. I would want to research this because I grew up going to a small camp, just North of Parry Sound in McDougal. I saw how important this camp is to the community especially when the most campers it has had has been 75. Which in comparison to other larger camps is small, especially at camps where you don’t know all of the staff either. Most of the people I went to camp with came from Parry Sound, or people whose parents did extensive research on camps to send their kids to. I have a huge curiosity in how these camps affect the community, especially in small communities like McDougal. From what I’m aware of with my camp, it affects it greatly, my now boss always sees and talks to the campers who return each summer and it seems as though it’s like a second school to these campers. 

The focus of the research would be mostly the campers who go to the camps, especially over the course that they attend the camp. I would take into consideration the age range the camp allows the campers to go to, from there I would research the effect, good or bad, it has had. I think the community would benefit from it, especially parents who are wondering where to send their kids in the summer. I would propose it to an REB to help them understand the need and the ethics behind the research. I would take into consideration that campers are usually under age of consent and would definitely figure out the best ways possible where it wouldn’t impose on the campers autonomy. As for right now, I’m not entirely sure how, but I would definitely consult an advisor who knows more about ethical research than I do. 

The course of my research, depending on the age range of the camp, I know my camp goes from 4-16. The research would last about 10-12 years, looking into how it adds to their developmental process and the community they reside in. Whether that’s crime rates or just the development of the community itself. Whether that development has improved the community or not. 

I would propose it by stating that the purpose of the research would be to look into the benefits that small camps have toward the communities they reside in and those outside them, especially for the campers who do overnight camping. Who I want to be as a researcher, who always takes into account human dignity, consent, and whether I feel comfortable with the information that I’ve been given. I think that it's an important aspect to consider if you want to continue with the research, if you think that it’s information that people of the community need to know. I think if there’s a certain aspect of safety towards the participant then there is an obligation to report it. 

I think any research that involves children should been done where you tread lightly, especially since they are minors and are therefore considered vulnerable. 

[ahoutd2511]

Blog Prompt 2 (OUTD 2511): “Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years”

Born in 1944, Agafia Lykov has survived in the Russian taiga for over 70 years, and a significant portion of that alone. Her father led his family into the Russian wilderness in 1937 to escape persecution for being some of Russia’s Old Believers (an ultra-orthodox sect of Christianity). Agafia commented that “the Old Believers were being killed because of their beliefs … that’s when we removed ourselves from materialistic society and stopped any contact with it.” (Lykov, 2013). Agafia’s father built their home 160 miles away from civilization in the Sayan Mountains. Unfortunately, Agafia’s mother died of starvation to provide her children with food, and the rest of her family passed due to sickness that a group of geologists that visited her family caused. Her home can only be accessed by helicopter in the winter or by a 7-day canoe trip in the summer. Even at the age of 70, Agafia continues to maintain her home, garden, fish, forage, and cut and stack wood. Agafia cherishes her life in the wild and has no desire to go to the city. Her life consists of hard work, but it is simple and pure. In recent years, researchers and university students travel to Agafia’s home to bring her supplies, help her with her chores, and learn about her lifestyle.

In 2013, a crew from VICE traveled to Agafia Lykov’s home in the Siberian taiga to study her lifestyle and document it. You can watch their findings at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt2AYafET68

This study can be considered microsocial theory because it focuses on an individual (Agafia) and studies a “concrete, small-scale, and narrow level of reality, such as face-to-face interaction in small groups,” (Neuman, 2017). Additionally, this research is qualitative because it involves field research. In field research, the researcher “becomes directly involved with the people being studied and personally experiences the process of daily social life in the field setting” and “acquires an insider’s point of view while maintaining the analytic perspective or distance of an outsider,” (Neuman, 2017). The VICE researchers are immersing themselves in Agafia’s usual everyday life and analyzing her lifestyle from an outsider’s perspective.

It is pretty obvious that the filmmakers of the documentary carry fairly substantial invisible backpacks. Firstly, they come from very populated and busy civilizations and throughout the documentary it is implied that the filmmakers do not understand the purpose or appeal of living remotely in the Siberian taiga. They have views that have been heavily impacted by modern society and it seems that they maintain these views throughout their stay with Agafia. Additionally, the film is sponsored by The North Face and you can see that the VICE crew is adorned with brand new, expensive outdoor supplies to make their stay in the wilderness easier and more comfortable. It seems that the filmmakers want to learn about Agafia, but without fully immersing themselves into her ways of life and learning her traditional techniques on how to survive. 

It is difficult to know the full span of ethical considerations in place since we do not know what happens behind the scenes. We do not know what consent was given, if the filmmakers properly explained what they were doing during the research process to Agafia, or what information Agafia wanted or allowed the filmmakers to share with the public. However, the ethical consideration we do see being addressed in the film is the language barrier. A translator was brought with the crew to help the English-speaking researchers and the Russian-speaking individuals communicate. 

I feel like the filmmakers view Agafia as if she is an animal in a zoo. They are curious about how she lives and are interested in her because she is unique, but they do not seem to care about her true reasoning on why she lives that way. Agafia mentions in the film that she does not like cities and does not want a materialistic lifestyle, however, no further information is provided in the film why she feels this way. There is a lot to learn from Agafia and I feel like she could be a true inspiration to many people if the filmmakers asked the right questions and shared more information about her, such as what drives her to have this lifestyle, what tools and techniques does she use, and how has she stayed so positive when she has had so many traumatic events occur in her life? I would have entered this study more open minded and not only with the mission to learn about Agafia, but to learn how her teachings could help others in their lives. In addition, I would have stayed with Agafia for a longer period of time to gain a greater understanding of her way of life and her views. Also, I would want to learn more about her being one of the last Old Believers and what the religion is about so that it can be better understood and its ideas can be preserved for history.

Some ethical considerations I would have is to make sure Agafia is fully on board with her personal information being available to the public and more specifically what information she is okay with sharing. I would present her the film before its release for her to confirm it is okay to share or if there are any parts of it she would like to change. Additionally, I would ask her if there is anything in particular she would like to share with me or the world, so that she feels more involved in the research process.

Reference List

VICE. (2013, April 9). Surviving in the siberian wilderness for 70 years (full length) [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt2AYafET68

Neuman, W. & Robson, K. (2017). Basics of social research (4th edition). Pearson

[mloutd2511]

Hey Ashley,

I totally agree with your statement that the filmmakers viewed Agafia as an animal in a zoo, but why do you feel like they didn't become fully immersed in her lifestyle? It seemed in the film that they had no choice but to immerse themselves to some extent. These are the Sayan Mountains, I’m sure they would’ve had to have lived the way she does while they were there. The time frame of how long is unclear as well as they did state that it may take some time for them to be allowed out because of how intense the environment is there. As for the religious aspect, I think it can be a touchy subject to talk about especially since this is a religion that is still trying to be eradicated and can only be found in small communities so it may have been the filmmakers attempt at protecting it. What are your thoughts? But I do think what they did show was very beautiful. I think at the time of the study, they may have asked the questions the viewers would want to know, as this study may not have been for the research itself. Would you consider this ethical? There’s many things about this study that were done that were ethical but at the same time there were many things wrong. I think when researching someone there are personal boundaries that you cannot cross and I think they did a good job respecting Agafia’s. Wouldn’t you think that if Agafia has been alive for as long as she has been she’d understand that this study would be broadcast to the world? Especially from the exposure she’s had from Yerofei who grew up in a more modern lifestyle.

Looking forward to your response,

Meg

[mloutd2511]

Agafia Lykov: Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness

*DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG WAS CREATED FOR OUTD 2511, LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. THE OPTIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN IDEAS AND NOT THOSE OF LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THIS BLOG.*

Prompt: “Outline the case study (who, what, where, when, why, how). Identify the research techniques being employed - to the best of your ability at this point in the term. Determine the invisible backpack of the documentary filmmaker - as best you can. Comment on whether this is directly identified or somehow noted in the film. Describe some key ethics considerations that were made in the production of this film and how they might have been addressed.

‘If you were given the same opportunity (to both research the family and communicate your findings to a larger audience of peers), how would you approach this research assignment? Outline your own identity and “who” you are as a student researcher approaching this topic. What are some key ethical considerations you might have and how might you address them?” (Prompt provided by Dr. Amanda Hooykaas).

Answer: *Trigger Warning: Mention of Assault*

In this study, Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years, a producer from VICE America, John Martin and an editor from VICE Russia, Gleb Lisichkin ventured out into the Mountains of Sayan in Taiga, Siberia. John Martin, not only took a 10 hour flight but another plane and a helicopter trip into the Mountains -- hiking is not an option for these parts in winter. Why? For a woman named Agafia Lykov, who had lived in these Mountains at the time of the study for seventy years. This study took place in 2013. Her family, before the second world war, escaped those who were after the old believers. The old believers were a group of people who were an ultra-orthodox sect of christianity, just before the war Stalin was after them. Many of these old believers still exist today but only in small communities. Agafia was born in these Mountains in 1944 and from the time her family arrived in the Mountains it had been forty years until they had a visitor. When they did, shortly afterwards the three eldest children died from complications from pneumonia. Life for the Lykovs, was difficult with barely having any food to get by Agafia’s mother died in 1961 due to starvation because there wasn’t enough food for both her and her children. 

At this point in the term, I believe that the research conducted in this study is qualitative research. John Martin and Gleb Lisichkin both took the time and effort into making sure that Agafia’s life story was heard. That the struggles she and her family had endured were told in dignity, these researchers took their time to respect Agafia and her way of life, they even brought her a goat and chicken as gifts. I believe that even if it wasn’t stated in the film that it was the intent to perform a qualitative study on Agafia. I think that the ethics behind this research were done in respect to Agafia, especially when it came to speaking on the relationship between her and Yerofei.

What I noticed from the film is that Agafia still held sadness and fear from the past experience with Yerofei, her neighbour. I think that if the researchers had more information on the situation, I think they left it out on purpose, not for Yerofei but for Agafia. Even though they are extremely excluded from technology and the modern world, Agafia seemed as though she still harboured a lot of fear towards Yerofei, despite his physical disabilities. When a person has gone through, what seemed to be an implied assault, the assaulters abilities don’t protect the victims from their own minds. Additionally, Agafia is too kind to let the man rot, her generous heart is what keeps Yerofei alive in the conditions they live in. When it came to the ethics of revealing to the world what may have happened all those years ago, I think they respected Agafias’ right to make her own decisions on reporting the matter. Although she grew up not having access to law enforcement to help her with the situation because they are about 160 miles from the nearest town, access would have been limited due to the harsh environment. Not to mention, that the assault may not have been taken seriously by law enforcement, especially in the time period it occurred.

I think as a student researcher, I may have approached or at least tried to approach it the same way John Martin and Gleb Lisichkin did. However, I would also take into consideration that when most outsiders come, illness is quick to follow because of how isolated she is from the germs in larger communities, her immune system may not be as developed as mine. As a researcher, I try to remain respectful to those who are participating. Respect for others is a large part of my own personal ethics and try to bring that to everything I do, therefore, I bring this to my research. I would apply this by not digging deeper than it seems the participant can handle regardless of my own desire towards the answer. Doing something that would make the participant uncomfortable would be disrespectful towards their life experience and their autonomy. 

Reference:

VICE. (2013, April 9). Surviving in the siberian wilderness for 70 years (full length). YouTube. Retrieved January 20, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt2AYafET68

[brcjoutd-2511]

Introduction: Brenton as a consumer of KNOWLEDGE

Pictured Below: Me trying to figure out my recently purchased Jetboil at Opeongo Lake in Algonquin Park.

I chose to come to Lakehead because I have always loved the outdoors and exploring, but I didn’t have much experience with camping, hiking, or recreation in general. I come from Southern Ontario, where the pickings are slim when it comes to interesting things to do outside. I have only recently begun my journey with recreation, as my first real camping trip to Algonquin Park was when I was sixteen, with a couple of my buddies. It was wet and cold and I was miserable the whole time, but it was 100% type 2 fun. Looking back, it was a fantastic time being so close to nature. Ever since, I have cultivated a strong love of all things natural, and I thrive in an environment where I feel like I can discover something new, so I am constantly chasing new experiences. Lakehead University and Thunder Bay were perfect for providing me with an unexplored playground, and the tools to navigate it, so it was practically a no-brainer for me when I began in the 2017-2018 year. I have been away for a few years, to do some serious self-reflection (and also to make some dang money), but I am finally getting back into Academia, and I am very much looking forward to moving back to Thunder Bay, so that I can escape the purgatory that is Burgessville, Ontario.

Now to the real subject of the prompt: How do I consume knowledge? I would like to consider myself a pretty skeptical person, and when I do suspect that something is untrue, I will put in the effort to research it myself. Often a simple google search will suffice to answer any questions I may have about a headline or a topic. That being said, I am still aware that nearly 100% of the information I consume is filtered through social media, and that so much of it I absorb at face value, without a second thought about its credibility. After thinking about where I get my information from, I realized I was hard-pressed to come up with more than a handful of different sources. I’ve settled on four: 

Social Media (Reddit, Instagram, Youtube etc.) 

Documentaries (Usually on Netflix) 

Books I’ve read

 Conversations I’ve had

When I consider that the majority of the information I gain, excluding the things I have learned through school, comes from such a limited number of places, I find it quite concerning. This is because, as I said, I often take what I see at face value, and only ever check the reliability of something if it is blatantly incorrect (or I disagree with it). I think that this concern relates to this program, because even without spending much time in this course, I have become more aware of my lacking research skills. I hope to progress my skills and improve my consumption habits from here on out, and I believe that I have a good chance of doing so, as long as I put forth an honest effort to do well in this course.

[mloutd2511]

Hey Brenton,

As a fellow person who is always striving to be better, have you considered the steps you’ll take to become the consumer of knowledge you wish to be? If so I’d be interested in knowing what those are. I do have to say though, many documentaries that I’ve watched typically are fairly reliable, especially ones like seaspiracy that take the time and effort into their projects. I think you’ll find that yes some things are unreliable but many hold truth, there’s some where you can cherry-pick what makes sense to you but not all. I think that when it comes to anything you can’t trust it at face value, so yes I agree with you there. How can anyone ever be 100% sure of anything though? I think many people who are religious would disagree that you would need to be. It’s faith that keeps people going in their belief system, whether that’s science or religion. For example, if people had more faith in humanity, I personally believe the world would be better for it. That may be a way that helps you become a better researcher, but that’s my own opinion. I think going into any form of research without bias will allow anyone to be a better consumer, it gets rid of any prejudice on any topic. I commend anyone on the notion of wanting to be and do better, especially in research due to its unreliability. 

I look forward to your opinion!

Thank you,

Meg

[mloutd2511]

Blog Post #1 -- Meg Lastoria

*DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG WAS CREATED FOR OUTD 2511, LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. THE OPTIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN IDEAS AND NOT THOSE OF LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY. LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THIS BLOG.*

Prompt: “Firstly, what has drawn you to this academic program? Secondly, as a consumer of knowledge, who do you rely upon for information? Consider perhaps three or more “sources”. How do you ensure this information is reliable? How does this relate to this program?” Prompt Provided by Dr. Amanda Hooykaas.

Answer:

When I was younger, the idea of anything to do with Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism had never crossed my mind, but I knew that I loved being outside. I believe that throughout my life, the journey I’ve been on -- whether it’s through summer camp or maybe even just hiking with my Aunt and her dogs -- has led me to this program. Honestly, before this I thought I wanted to be a novelist, but the second I read what Outdoor Rec, specifically this program, was about, my first thought was “that’s me!”. So everything I did from then on was to get into this program and any other school I got into didn’t matter anymore, Lakehead was the number one prospect. I think I’ve always craved being a part of this world, especially in the deeper sense that this program has to offer. Therefore, to me the only answer that I can provide as to “why?” is that I’m in love with recreation and everything the outdoors has to offer, except for cross-country skiing, I hate it! 

As a consumer of knowledge in today’s society, I rely on social media, media (ie. the news), and the internet for my information. How I make sure this information is reliable is that I go to the most recent news possible, as well as the most recent experiments conducted by doctors (MD or PhD) to ensure that I can trust it because it’s from a person who has done extensive research into the topic. If it’s from social media, I generally only believe it if it's a person of colour, another woman, a member of the LGBTQ2+ community talking about their experiences as a minority, or an expert in their field. The news will only provide you so little because, especially in the US, the news is typically run by white cis-gender people so it’s not the most diverse perspective given. As humans I feel it is our duty to diversify our knowledge and it directly relates back to this program because Outdoor Recreation doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to inclusivity. Now we have the JEDI principles, which are Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. These principles were put into place to rectify the amount of injustice there is in Outdoor Recreation. I say “is” because as much as these principles are put into place, I as a woman will still face discrimination from a man who is believed to be “better” than me. I’m speaking from experience because there was a point where I was on a trip and this other group member who was male wouldn’t take my advice on his canoeing skills even though I’ve been canoeing my whole life and this was his first time. So to relate this back to what I’m saying about sources of information is that you should listen to those who have more experience with something than you do, regardless of gender, race, or sexuality, that’s how you know it’s reliable because it’s someone with years of experience and knowledge. Someone who has taken it upon themselves to change their perspectives and grow from those perspectives. So I, as a consumer of knowledge, am constantly looking for ways that I can be a better guide in the Outdoor Recreation world, especially since I am a white woman.