interdisciplinary research on problems in human ecology

Problems in human ecology are complex, interrelated, incommensurable and interdisciplinary. The often need to involve stakeholder approaches and show a plurality of values. Research strategies should deal with these characteristics and research methods reflect these characteristics. The paper analyses these aspects in two ways. In the first part the results of the analysis of 15 research papers are discussed. The focus is on the methods that are used in these papers. It is shown that research in human ecology uses a mix of methods that stem from a broad group of scientific disciplines. The heterogeneous set of data that results from this array of approaches necessitates methods to integrate and structure these data. The second part of the paper addresses in a synoptical way the results of the implementation of an environmental management system in 39 primary schools in South Africa. The results show how such an environmental education programme illustrates to characteristics of approaches to environmental problems.