Reflections on Identity, Positionality and Power in Community-Based Participatory Flood Research

Foong Sin Lam; Jer Vui Lee; Yeok Meng Ngeow

doi:10.21834/e-bpj.v9i29.6021

Authors

Foong Sin Lam Department of Civil Engineering, LKC Faculty of Engineering & Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kajang, Malaysia
Jer Vui Lee Department of Mechatronics and BioMedical Engineering, LKC Faculty of Engineering & Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kajang, Malaysia
Yeok Meng Ngeow Department of General Studies, Faculty of Creative Industries, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kajang, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v9i29.6021

Keywords:

CBPR, Autoethnography, Flood Management, Inclusivity

Abstract

The paper explores the integration of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) with hydrological modeling in flood risk management, focusing on positionality, identity, and power dynamics. Employing autoethnography as the primary research method, this study draws on personal experiences and reflections of researchers to deeply engage with and understand the cultural and social dynamics of flood-affected communities. By shifting from traditional authoritative research roles to more collaborative and facilitative engagements, the study promotes equitable and inclusive practices that align scientific rigor with the complexities of the communities involved. The broader application of CBPR principles ensures sustainable, community-driven approaches in flood risk management.

References

Alcoff, L. M. (2005). Visible identities: Race, gender, and the self. Oxford University Press.

Bourdieu, P. (1991). Language and symbolic power. Harvard University Press.

Dong, C., & Morehouse, J. (2022). Toward a caring government: Advancing ethical government public relations with a care-based relationship cultivation model. Journal of Public Relations Research, 34(5), 179-207.

Fulcrum. (2024). Geolocation Data in Disaster Response: How Fulcrum is Making a Difference. Fulcrum Blog. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://www.fulcrumapp.com/blog/geolocation-data-in-disaster-response-how-fulcrum-is-making-a-difference/

Haeffner, M., Hames, F., Barbour, M. M., Reeves, J. M., Platell, G., & Grover, S. (2022). Expanding collaborative autoethnography into the world of natural science for transdisciplinary teams. One Earth, 5(2), 157-167.

Hood, A. M., Booker, S. Q., Morais, C. A., Goodin, B. R., Letzen, J. E., Campbell, L. C., ... & Janevic, M. R. (2022). Confronting racism in all forms of pain research: a shared commitment for engagement, diversity, and dissemination. The journal of pain, 23(6), 913-928.

Lie, L. B., de Korte, L., & Pursiainen, C. H. (2023). “Here, I will stay until I die”—exploring the relationship between place attachment, risk perception, and coping behavior in two small Norwegian communities. Regional Environmental Change, 23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-023-02106-2

Mason, C. W., & Neumann, P. (2024). The impacts of climate change on tourism operators, trail experience, and land use management in British Columbia's backcountry. Land, 13(1), 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010069

McGowan, J., Dembski, S., & Moore, T. (2020). Co-Opting the Streets of Liverpool: Self-Organization and the Role of Local Authorities. Planning Practice & Research, 35(4), 363-379.

Muse, A. M. (2024). Flood assessment and control in Hargeisa, Somaliland: A community-based perspective. Retrieved from

https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202401.1002

Pillay, A. (2019). A Critical Review of the Mainstream Approaches to Humanitarian Aid Practice and Support Systems: An Autoethnographic Inquiry into the Social, Political and Cultural Experiences of a Humanitarian Aid Worker (Doctoral dissertation, University of York).

Rose, G. (1997). Situating knowledges: positionality, reflexivities and other tactics. Progress in human geography, 21(3), 305-320.

Ritzenthaler, C. (2023). Exploring the Development of an Environmental Identity Using an Autoethnographic Approach. Journal of Sustainability Education.

Secules, S., McCall, C., Mejia, J. A., Beebe, C., Masters, A. S., L. Sánchez‐Peña, M., & Svyantek, M. (2021). Positionality practices and dimensions of impact on equity research: A collaborative inquiry and call to the community. Journal of Engineering Education, 110(1), 19-43.

Springgate, B. F., Sugarman, O., Wells, K. B., Palinkas, L. A., Meyers, D., Wennerstrom, A., ... & Culbertson, R. (2021). Community partnered participatory research in Southeast Louisiana communities threatened by climate change: The C-LEARN experience. The American Journal of Bioethics, 21(10), 46-48.

UiTM News. (2023, December 18). UiTM Paves the Way with Smart Technology to Revolutionize Kampung Padang Jawa Flood Management. Universiti Teknologi MARA. Retrieved from https://news.uitm.edu.my/uitm-paves-the-way-with-smart-technology-to-revolutionize-kampung-padang-jawa-flood-management/

UTM News. (2023, August 15). CDLLR: Anjakan Baharu Memperkasakan Komuniti Dalam Pengurusan Risiko Bencana. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://news.utm.my/ms/2023/08/cdllr-anjakan-baharu-memperkasakan-komuniti-dalam-pengurusan-risiko-bencana/

Vélez, T. I. (2019). So you're" Latina Latina": Positionality and Reflexivity in Developing Scholar-Activist Praxis. Journal of Latin American Geography, 18(3), 215-220.

Vilá, O., A. Bray, L., B. Cutts, B., Crites, M., Goins, H., McMenamin, N., ... & McLean, S. (2023). Recognition and ethical research practices: The role of community specialists. International Journal of Mass Emergencies & Disasters, 41(1), 9-25.