Session: DAC-12-01 Engineering for Global Development

Paper Number: 70438

Start Time: August 17, 03:20 PM

70438 - Assessing the Social Impacts of Improved Cookstoves in Peri-Urban and Rural Uganda Using Card Sorting 

Card sorting is one method that can be used to solicit meaningful insight from end users on the design and assessment of technologies. The objective of this paper is to present methods for and results from a card sorting activity exploring the social impacts experienced by households that have adopted improved cookstoves in peri-urban and rural Uganda. Using a framework consisting of eleven social impacts developed previously in the literarture (population change, family, gender, education, stratification, employment, health and well-being, human rights, networks and communication, conflict and crime, and cultural identity/heritage), households were asked to sort the cards into most, somewhat, and least impacted categories, limiting responses to four cards per category. Examples of potential impacts were given for each category and conversations were facilitated around the placement of each card into a cup. Results from this activity reaffirmed positive impacts for family, gender, health and well-being, and education that have been well documented in the literature. Results also identified social impacts often overlooked in the sector such as changes in networks and communication, cultural identity and heritage, and human rights. Reflections on these results in terms of cookstove design as well as improvements that could be made in future card sorting activities are discussed.

Presenting Author: Nordica MacCarty Oregon State University

Authors:

Erin Peiffer Oregon State University
Nordica MacCarty Oregon State University