Learning, action, and behaviour change: effective Forum Theatre design for smallholder farmers

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Arts and Humanities
• Development Studies

Background:

• Art's role in social action and behavior change is debated, particularly concerning the influence of emotion (affect) versus participatory engagement.
• Forum Theatre offers a participatory model for addressing complex social and environmental issues through collective dialogue and re-enactment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how Forum Theatre influences behavior change among cassava farmers in Northwest Cambodia.
• To examine the distinct roles of participant involvement and emotional engagement (affect) in driving behavioral outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A Forum Theatre production was designed and performed for cassava farmers, addressing their lived experiences with environmental and socioeconomic challenges.
• Follow-up interviews were conducted a year later with 66 attendees to assess recollections and reported behavior changes.

Main Results:

• Participant involvement was identified as the primary driver of learning and subsequent behavior change.
• Emotional engagement (affect) significantly enhanced recollection of the theatre but did not directly correlate with changes in behavior.

Conclusions:

• Forum Theatre initiatives should prioritize active audience participation to foster learning and facilitate behavior change.
• Affect (emotion) serves as a stronger catalyst for memory recall than for direct behavioral modification in this context.