Shaw, B. R., Radler B.
T., & Haack,
J. (2011). Exploring the utility of the stages of change model to promote
natural shorelines. Lake Reservoir
Management, 27, 310–320.
Exploring the utility of the stages of change model to
promote natural shorelines
The stages of change model (SCM) suggest that shoreline property owners adopt
more natural shorelines over time as they move through several stages of change
(precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance and
relapse). The purpose of this study was to examine whether these stages of
change may be useful in identifying lakeshore property owners’ attitudes and
intent toward adopting more natural shorelines. Results provide preliminary
support that the SCM may represent a useful framework for understanding
property owners’ propensities toward adopting more natural shorelines. The
authors suggest additional research will improve the external reliability of
the SCM as adopted in an environmental context. Link to publication: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07438141.2011.610916#.VBIS9ZRdWSo
Shaw, B. R., Radler, B.
T., & Haack, J. (2012). Comparing two direct mail strategies to sell native
plants in a campaign to promote natural shorelines. Social Marketing Quarterly, 18(4),
274-280.
Comparing two direct
mail strategies to sell native plants in a campaign to promote natural
shorelines
The message strategy tested builds on the ‘‘zero-price effect,’’ which suggests
that when faced with a choice between two product options, one of which is
free, people respond more readily to the free offer as if the zero price not
only implies a low cost of buying a product but also increases its perceived
valuation simply in its being characterized as free. Households received a
coupon that read, “FREE
pack (or $5 dollars off),” with “FREE pack” as the
visually dominant element or a coupon that read, “$5 OFF (or
free pack),” with the “$5 OFF” designed
as the visually dominant element. Otherwise, the coupons were identical. Half
of the households randomly received the first coupon and the other half
received the second. Coupons could be redeemed at one of five participating
nurseries. As hypothesized, results indicated the ‘‘FREE pack” coupon offer was
more attractive to recipients, with almost twice as many redemptions. Link to publication: http://smq.sagepub.com/content/18/4/274.short
Shaw,
B.R., Radler, B., Chenoweth, R., Heiberger, P., & Dearlove, P. (2011).
Predicting intent to install a rain garden to protect a local lake: An
application of the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Extension, 49, 204.
Predicting intent to install a rain
garden to protect a local lake: An application of the theory of planned
behavior
Many lakes are degraded by urban stormwater runoff. One way to
reduce these impacts is installing rain gardens that absorb water running off
impervious surfaces. The study reported here explored how the Theory of Planned
Behavior (TPB) can be used to inform storm water management outreach campaigns.
Regression analyses of survey data were used to inform how Extension natural
resource educators can more effectively encourage people to install rain
gardens. Attitudes toward rain gardens and subjective norms were positively
associated with behavioral intent. Perceived behavioral control was not
significantly associated with behavioral intent. Implications for Extension educators
are discussed. Link to full publication: http://www.joe.org/joe/2011august/a6.php
Amato, M. S., Shaw, B.
R., & Haack, J. (2012). The challenge of self-enhancement bias for
educational programs designed to encourage natural shorelines. Lake and Reservoir Management, 28, 206–211.
The challenge of
self-enhancement bias for educational programs designed to encourage natural shorelines
This study proposed and found support for a potential barrier to successful
implementation of programs designed to promote
natural shorelines along residential property. This study explored how the
phenomenon of self-enhancement bias may cause property owners to over-estimate
the natural state of their shorelines, preventing remedial action they
otherwise might take if a more accurate self-assessment were available. Results
revealed that residents evaluated their own shorelines significantly more
natural than did biologists. This pattern was consistent with the hypothesis
that self-enhancement bias may be a barrier to educational programs designed to
encourage more natural shorelines among lakeshore property owners. Based on
these findings, the authors offered recommendations for lake and water resource
managers to potentially improve the efficacy of such programs. Link to full
publication: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07438141.2012.697978#.VBIUVJRdWSo
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Additional Research
Steel, B. S., Soden, D. L., & Warner, R. L.
(1990). The impact of knowledge and values on perceptions of environmental risk
to the great lakes. Society & Natural
Resources, 3(4), 331–348.
The
impact of knowledge and values on perception of environmental risks to the great
lakes
Citizen attitudes concerning the potential hazards of environmental
pollution are believed to be influenced by various factors. Some observers
focused on the level of education and policy‐relevant knowledge among the
public as predictors of environmental risk perceptions. Others argued that
level of education and knowledge are largely unrelated to risk perceptions.
These scholars focused on the symbolic nature of environmental issues and
highlighted the importance of the underlying influence of political and social
value orientations on the perception of environmental risk. This study explored
how public perceptions of risk associated with industrial pollution in the
Great Lakes were affected by policy‐relevant knowledge and political value
orientations. Findings suggested that value orientations are stronger
predictors of environmental risk perceptions than knowledge. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08941929009380730#.VFOatjTF-So
Stedman, R. C., & Hammer, R. B. (2006).
Environmental perception in a rapidly growing, amenity-rich region: The effects
of lakeshore development on perceived water quality in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
Society & Natural Resources, 19(2), 137–151.
doi:10.1080/08941920500394733
The
effect of lakeshore development on perceived water quality in Vilas County,
Wisconsin
This study explored the relationship between perceived and actual water quality
in a rapidly growing, high-amenity rural area (Vilas County, WI) and how this
relationship was affected by shoreline development. Although the data on the
relationship between shore development and aquatic environs were not
conclusive, people expressed high levels of concern about the environmental
impacts of this type of growth. Researchers linked databases that include water
quality and lakeshore development variables with a mail survey of 1000 local
property owners. Although the shoreline development levels are unrelated to
water quality variables such as turbidity, chlorophyll levels, and color, this
study found that lakes with higher levels of development were perceived by
respondents as having worse water quality than lightly developed lakes. These
findings have important implications for high-amenity rural communities that are
undergoing rapid development.
Winkler, R., Schewe, R. L., &
Matarrita-Cascante, D. (2013). Lakes and community: The importance of natural landscapes
in social research. Society & Natural
Resources, 26(2), 158–175.
doi:10.1080/08941920.2013.739526
Lakes
and community: The importance of natural landscapes in social research
The focus of this
research was on the role the natural environment plays in shaping interactional
social relationships that constitute community. This study was particularly
interested in relationships between seasonal and permanent residents, because prior
literature has questioned the extent to which these two groups interact with one
another to promote joint community development efforts. Both quantitative and qualitative
findings demonstrated the importance of lakes as a natural feature that
organizes social interactions and encourages
relationships across the divide between seasonal and permanent
residents. Lakes appeared to facilitate community building by combining transportation
and recreation, providing third places, and creating common concerns. These
findings hold lessons for the field of natural resource sociology and practical
implications for community development.