Change Theory

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Working Group 4: Presentation

Our Abstract in Google Doc

Paper Gilberto's First Ideas

Google Doc Link

Next Steps:

1. Thales asks Isabel and Joice for Description and Evolution Rules and proposes a mapping like Table 2.

2. Angela revises section 4 and suggests a way how to solve problem with analogy model HDTP.

3. Add a Knowledge Acquisition Methodology.

4. Review paper.

5. Define a conference to submit.

Google Doc Link

Next Steps:

1. Thales proposes a way how spatial patterns look like.

2. Angela adds some suggestions about HDTP.

3. Review paper.

German Version: max 20 pages

Next Steps:

1. Update structure and add available info (Giovana) (Deadline 27.3)

2. Write proposal (Angela) (Deadline 30.4).

Several master thesis can be done on developing domain-specific theories of change. Depending on the background of the student, they can apply different methods such as unstructured interviews with domain experts or statistical analysis of spatial temporal change patterns. The outcome shall be a set of description rules (i.e. rules to classify regions into different types) and evolution rules (i.e. rules to describe changes of different types). Possible domains include:

• in Brazil: land use change (example: deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon), Contact: Angela, Supervisor Isabel / Gilberto
• in Germany: land use change (example: development of residential areas in urban areas), Contact: Angela
• with historians: political change in Brazil, Europe, Germany

• PhD 1: Develop a General Theory of Change (see paper 1 and proposal for details)
• PhD 2: Analogical Reasoning on Spatial Temporal Patterns (see paper 2 and proposal for details).

• Giovana Mira de Espindola (INPE Brazil): possible sandwich PhD with Gilberto (INPE) and statistics group in Münster?
• PhD student working on Change Theory Topic, possible sandwich PhD with Münster (Angela?) and INPE (Gilberto?). For generalizing theory of change across domains, it is necessary to work for some time in Brazil / Germany to work with local experts.
• PhD student working on analogical reasoning of spatial temporal patterns, possible sandwitch PhD with Münster (Angela?) and INPE (Lubia/Gilberto?). The methodology to describe spatial temporal patterns is done in Brazil, while the work on the analogical comparison is done in Germany.

Master students working on the development of a domain theory of change can take part in the exchange program, if domain experts are in the corresponding institute. This is particularly the case fo German master students working on land change in the Brazilian Amazon. The Master Student should at least partly work in the country where the expert is situated.