PhD Student Psychology Department amp Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies University of Wisconsin Madison Encouraging shoreline behavior change Study 1 Beliefs amp Goals How do people make decisions about their shore ID: 620722
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Michael S. Amato" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Michael S. Amato
PhD StudentPsychology Department &Nelson Institute for Environmental StudiesUniversity of Wisconsin - Madison
Encouraging shoreline behavior changeSlide2
Study 1: Beliefs & Goals
How do people make decisions about their shore?
How are people who engage in restoration different from people who don’t?
Encouraging shoreline behavior changeSlide3
Study 1: Beliefs & Goals
How do people make decisions about their shore?
How are people who engage in restoration different from people who don’t?
Many
p
ossible
reasons for different choices:
Emphasis on common good vs. self-interest
Belief in rights of nature versus humans
Belief in fragility of nature
Goals for their propertySlide4
Study method:
Survey sent to Burnett Co. owners (n = 155 ; 64% resp rate)
Questions about beliefs, goals, etc.
Questions about grooming behaviors:
Shower
Shave
Cut
trees and
shrubs
Mow
Rake
Maintain beach
Beliefs and Goals for Shoreline DecisionsSlide5
Beliefs associated with LESS shoreline grooming:
Rights of nature
(β = -0.34, 99% CI = [-0.61, -0.07])
Fragility of nature
(
β =
-0.25, 99% CI = [
0.09, 0.41
])
Implications for communication:
Emphasize empathy with animals; personification
Emphasize delicate balance of lake ecosystem
Beliefs and Goals for Shoreline Decisions
ResultsSlide6
Goals associated with MORE shoreline grooming:
Importance of pleasing aesthetic
(β = 0.34, 99% CI = [0.11, 0.57])
Importance of
usability
for recreation
(
β
= 0.36, 99% CI = [0.14
, 0.58
])Implication for communication:Offer solutions compatible with those two goals
Beliefs and Goals for Shoreline Decisions
ResultsSlide7
One final point on this:
BELIEFS (rights + fragility)
affected behavior by affecting perceived importance of shore vegetation
GOALS
(aesthetic + usability)
affected behavior
independently
of
perceived importance of shore vegetation
Beliefs and Goals for Shoreline DecisionsSlide8
Study 2: The Barrier of Self-Perception Bias
What are the barriers that prevent people from improving their shore?
Study 1: Beliefs & Goals
for Shoreline Decisions
How do people make decisions about their shore?
How are people who engage in restoration different from people who don’t?
Encouraging shoreline behavior changeSlide9
come to view
old behavior as undesirable
old behavior:
maintain groomed shoreline
new behavior:
g
row vegetated shoreline
The
Barrier of Self-Perception
BiasSlide10
come to view
old behavior as undesirable
old behavior
new
behavior
Humans are not objective observers of the world.
We perceive the world in ways that promote a positive self-view.
Current shoreline state reflects past
decisions
.
Owners are motivated to avoid negative conclusions about their
past decisions
.
The
Barrier of Self-Perception
BiasSlide11
Study method:
Central Wisconsin
71 property owners (59% response rate)
Rated photos of shorelines on 4
measures:
natural beauty, water quality, habitat,
usability
8 photos:
1 photo of their
own
shoreline
+7 photos of other participants’ shorelines
The
Barrier of Self-Perception
BiasSlide12
Study method:
Central Wisconsin
71 property owners
(59% response rate)
Rated photos of shorelines on 4 measures:
natural beauty, water quality, habitat, usability
8 photos:
1 photo of their
own
shoreline
+7 photos of other participants’ shorelines
The
Barrier of Self-Perception BiasSlide13
Study result:
Owners underestimate their own shoreline’s impact
The
Barrier of Self-Perception
BiasSlide14
Implications:
Owners are unlikely to improve their shoreline if they don’t perceive a problem.Owners who think lake health is important are especially prone to self-perception bias.
The
Barrier of Self-Perception
BiasSlide15
Future Research
Beliefs & GoalsEvaluate actual behavior (not self-report)
Use survey responses to tailor messages
Self-Perception Bias
Test methods for delivering objective feedback
Self-assessment
worksheet
Lake
Health
ReportSlide16
Thank you for your time!
Michael Amato
Bret Shaw
John
Haack
Thank you to
Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesSlide17
Extra slides for Q&ASlide18
Category
Construct
Item Text
values
self-transcendence
Wisconsin's lakes should be available to everyone.
self-enhancement
I am proud to own property on a lake.
stimulation
I find it personally satisfying to spend time at the lake.
security
Owning lake property gives me a feeling of security.
biospheric
beliefs
nature’s resilience
The lake can withstand human modifications of the shoreline.
human ingenuity
The health of the lakes is dependent on human intervention and ingenuity.
rights of nature
It is important to protect the lake for the plants and animals that live there.
goals
affective – enjoy
My ability to enjoy my property
affective – aesthetic
How much I will like the look of it
gain – cost
Cost of the different options
gain – resale
Resale value of my property
normative – fit
How the look of my shoreline fits in with others nearby
normative – health
Effects on the overall health of the lake
mediator
importance
It is important that I let my shoreline grow in a natural, vegetated state.