Doctoral Dissertation Research: An Investigation of Individual and Group Attitudes Toward Water Resources in Portland, Oregon

博士论文研究：俄勒冈州波特兰市个人和团体对水资源态度的调查

• 批准号: 0326975
• 负责人: Mary Santelmann
• 金额: $ 0.82万
• 依托单位: Oregon State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-09-01 至 2005-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0326975&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Investigation; Individual

Evidence from recent surveys suggests that although urban residents support water resource protection as a general principle, significant opposition exists to specific water resource protection measures. Such disconnects between general and specific attitudes, including those expressed through behavior, are common and often are explained by poor measurement techniques or overly simplistic theories, such as utilitarianism and the politics of self-interest. Alternative theories allow for multiple rationalities and view the attitude-behavior split as evidence of complex cognitive and decision-making processes. The attitudinal and decision-making literature developed by geographers, social psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, economists, political scientists, and other scholars provides the theoretical context for this doctoral dissertation research project, which will be conducted in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. The project will investigate the degree of attitudinal divergence among urban residents, and it will aim to provide explanations for varying environmental attitudes. The attitudes of residents who do and do not participate in place-based groups like watershed councils and neighborhood associations will be examined, because the frequent involvement of such groups in environmental decision-making raises questions about the extent to which the views of participants represent those of the general public. The project will address two primary sets of research questions: (1) To what extent is there a divergence between urban residents' abstract (general) and concrete (specific) support for water resource protection? If so, what factors explain this divergence? (2) To what degree do the views of watershed- and neighborhood-based organizations correspond with those of the people they are thought to represent? If the views held by place-based group participants differ from those of non-participants, what factors contribute to attitudinal differences? To address these questions, semi-structured interviews are being conducted and a scientific survey will be implemented using the Dillman survey method in order to systematically collect information on residents' water-related attitudes and behavior as well as information about socio-demographic and other explanatory factors.The results of this research will inform natural resource planning and management in the Portland area and elsewhere through improved understanding of urban residents' attitudes toward water resource protection. The project also will provide new insights regarding the degree to which the attitudes of place-based groups are representative of the individuals they are thought to serve. Knowledge of environmental attitudes and behavior is critical to developing and implementing effective natural resource policies that are responsive to public values and concerns, an important objective in a democratic society. This research will advance scientific and practical understanding of the complex factors that underlie environmental attitudes and behavior as well as public involvement strategies that rely on established, geographically defined groups. As a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, this award also will provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career.

最近调查的证据表明，虽然城市居民支持水资源保护作为一项一般原则，但对具体的水资源保护措施存在很大的反对意见。 一般态度和具体态度（包括通过行为表达的态度）之间的这种脱节很常见，通常可以用糟糕的测量技术或过于简单化的理论（如功利主义和自利政治）来解释。 替代理论允许多种理性，并将态度-行为分裂视为复杂认知和决策过程的证据。 地理学家，社会心理学家，社会学家，人类学家，经济学家，政治学家和其他学者开发的态度和决策文献提供了这个博士论文研究项目，这将是在波特兰，俄勒冈州，大都市区进行的理论背景。 该项目将调查城市居民之间态度差异的程度，目的是为不同的环境态度提供解释。 居民的态度，做和不参加以地方为基础的团体，如流域委员会和邻里协会将被检查，因为这些团体在环境决策中的频繁参与提出了问题的程度，参与者的意见代表那些一般公众。 本项目将解决两组主要的研究问题：（1）城市居民对水资源保护的抽象（一般）和具体（具体）支持之间存在多大程度的分歧？ 如果是这样，什么因素可以解释这种差异？ (2)流域和社区组织的观点在多大程度上与他们所代表的人民的观点一致？ 如果基于地点的群体参与者的观点与非参与者的观点不同，什么因素会导致态度差异？ 为了解决这些问题，通过半结构式访谈，采用Dillman调查方法进行科学调查，系统收集居民对水的态度和行为，以及社会、经济、文化等方面的信息，人口和其他解释因素。这项研究的结果将通过提高对以下方面的认识，为波特兰地区和其他地方的自然资源规划和管理提供信息。城市居民对水资源保护的态度。 该项目还将提供新的见解，说明基于地点的群体的态度在多大程度上代表了他们被认为要服务的个人。 对环境态度和行为的了解对于制定和执行有效的自然资源政策至关重要，这些政策应响应公众的价值观和关切，这是民主社会的一个重要目标。 这项研究将促进科学和实际的理解，基础的环境态度和行为，以及公众参与的战略，依赖于建立，地理定义的群体的复杂因素。 作为博士论文研究改进奖，该奖项还将提供支持，使有前途的学生建立一个强大的独立的研究生涯。