Performing Department
DEPT OF COMMUNITY, AGRICULTURE, RECREATION & RESOURCE STUDIES
Non Technical Summary
Although the public's attitudes toward the environment have strengthened over the past 30 years, these positive attitudes have not been reflected in corresponding gains in positive environmental behavioral change. The studies in this project examine why this is the case and explore how environmental behavior can be enhanced.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
60%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
Research Objective - To evaluate the psychological determinants of environmental behavior. Specific Research Questions 1.Are worldviews or paradigms good predictors of environmental behavior? 2.What direct or indirect role does knowledge play in determining environmental behavior? 3.What strategies can be employed to remove or reduce barriers to environmental behavioral change? (Studies 1, 2 & 3) 4.Is there a generalizable model of environmental behavior? What psychological determinants (e.g. empowerment, trust, norms, values, traditional knowledge, experience) would comprise such a model? (Studies 1, 2 & 3) 5.Is traditional knowledge a determinant of environmental behavior? (Study 2 & 3) Study 1 The Endangered Species Act has achieved limited success in getting private landowners to engage in endangered species recovery. The purpose of this study is to identify the various determinants of private landowner behavior with respect to species recovery efforts on their
properties. Building on Ajzen's theory of planned behavior (TPB), this research will explore the attitudes, subjective norms, personal norms, perceived behavioral control, social constraints, behavioral intentions, and realized behavior of landowners involved with endangered species recovery on private lands. Study 2 Empowerment theory suggests that individuals may gain control over important life domains such as food choices through a process of learning and skill development. This process leads to a critical awareness of the individual's role within the larger system that allows for positive and educated behavioral changes. These educated behavioral changes result in an empowered individual that understands his or her rights and responsibilities and the repercussions associated with behavioral choices. This study will examine the sources and methods of knowledge and skill development as experienced by participants in an urban community gardening program. Study 3 Fishing is an
important cultural, recreational and economic activity for Native Americans in Michigan. As with other Michigan anglers, they are exposed to the presence of toxic substances in the waters of the Great Lakes Basin which pose a significant public health concern. The research project is designed to answer two key questions: 1. Is Michigan's current fish advisory an effective risk communication mechanism for Native American anglers? 2. What form would a more effective risk communication strategy, tailored to Native American anglers as the target audience, take?
Project Methods
Study 1: Landowner Perspectives on Recovery of Endangered Species: A Grounded Theory Approach. Using a grounded theory approach, two target populations, (a) private landowners with a range of experience with endangered species and (b) organizations promoting recovery efforts will be informants in a series of face-to-face semi-structured in-depth interviews. In addition to the qualitative work, a quantitative analysis will be conducted on a brief questionnaire designed to test the applicability of the TPB to the situation being researched. The study population is limited to those private landowners in Michigan whose properties are potentially suitable for a species recovery program (e.g., presence of an endangered species or suitable habitat). The species are Kirtland's warbler, Great Lakes piping plover, and Mitchell's satyr (a butterfly). Interviews will also be conducted with representatives of government agencies and other organizations working in the area of species
recovery. Study 2: Personal Empowerment and Behavioral Change Through Community Gardening: The Foster Park Community Garden The study will employ a single case study methodology using the Foster Park Community Garden. Face to face in-depth interviews will be the primary source of data, supplemented by documentation and direct observation. The individuals to be interviewed in this study fall into two categories: a) community gardeners, and b) key informants. The Lansing Garden Project possesses a number of internal documents that will be used as secondary sources of information allowing for an understanding of the gardener and key informant interviews within context of the organization. Study 3: Michigan's Fish Advisory and Native American Anglers: A Risk Perception and Communication Study. Theoretically the study will draw upon the risk perception and risk communication literature. The project will use both quantitative (statistical analysis of survey data) and qualitative (focus
groups, workshops) techniques. In Phase 1, a survey instrument will be designed and administered through structured face to face interviews at selected lake and river fishing locations (including the Bay Mills Indian Reservation) in the Michigan Upper Peninsula (UP) during the fishing season. Specific survey locations will be determined in consultation with UP Native American communities. Both Native American anglers and a comparison group of other anglers will be surveyed. The survey data will be used to develop lay risk perception models for Native American and other anglers. In Phase 2, a review will be conducted of the fish advisory materials and processes used in other Great Lake states and provinces. Focus groups and workshops will be conducted in the UP with Native American anglers, representatives of the Sault Tribal Government, and relevant state agencies (e.g., Department of Natural Resources, MDCH, MSU Extension in the UP). These activities will focus on the design of a
risk communication strategy tailored to Native American anglers and their households. This will include the identification of preferred presentation formats, content, and methods of message dissemination.