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A soft systems inquiry into the notion of ‘food deserts’ during the Covid‐19 pandemic

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  • Pavla Kramarova
  • Frank Stowell
  • Jana Ries

Abstract

The severe restrictions placed upon face‐to‐face meetings during the Covid pandemic in 2020/2021 created new challenges for the on‐going research into food systems in the Portsmouth community. The researchers had planned to use soft action research which involves participants meeting face‐to‐face. The restrictions that were imposed during the pandemic forbade such meetings and created a new set of issues for the researchers to overcome. In this paper, we describe how these shortcomings were addressed and introduce a novel way of adapting soft action research through the use of Information and Communication Technologies. The lessons learnt from our experiences will help inform researchers and professionals using Soft methods of inquiry and open opportunities for others to explore further the benefits and disadvantages of online investigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Pavla Kramarova & Frank Stowell & Jana Ries, 2023. "A soft systems inquiry into the notion of ‘food deserts’ during the Covid‐19 pandemic," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(6), pages 853-862, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:srbeha:v:40:y:2023:i:6:p:853-862
    DOI: 10.1002/sres.2907
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. ver Ploeg, Michele & Breneman, Vince & Farrigan, Tracey & Hamrick, Karen & Hopkins, David & Kaufman, Phillip & Lin, Biing-Hwan & Nord, Mark & Smith, Travis A. & Williams, Ryan & Kinnison, Kelly & Olan, 2009. "Access to Affordable and Nutritious Food: Measuring and Understanding Food Deserts and Their Consequences: Report to Congress," Administrative Publications 292130, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Yeeli Mui & Ellis Ballard & Eli Lopatin & Rachel L J Thornton & Keshia M Pollack Porter & Joel Gittelsohn, 2019. "A community-based system dynamics approach suggests solutions for improving healthy food access in a low-income urban environment," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-13, May.
    3. Neil Wrigley, 2002. "'Food Deserts' in British Cities: Policy Context and Research Priorities," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 39(11), pages 2029-2040, October.
    4. Douglas J. Besharov & Marianne Bitler & Steven J. Haider, 2011. "An economic view of food deserts in the united states," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(1), pages 153-176, December.
    5. Frank Stowell & Shavindrie Cooray, 2017. "Virtual Action Research for Virtual Organisations?," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 117-143, April.
    6. Bastian, Nathaniel D. & Swenson, Eric R. & Ma, Linlin & Na, Hyeong Suk & Griffin, Paul M., 2017. "Incentive contract design for food retailers to reduce food deserts in the US," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 87-98.
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