Relationships between values, beliefs, and water-impacting behaviors in the Great Lakes

watershed

Andrew T. KozichKathleen E. Halvorsen

Michigan Technological University

Acknowledgements

•National Science Foundation GK-12 Fellowship program; Water, Sustainability, and Climate Change grant (research funding)

•Ellen Brenna (research assistance)

•Michigan Technological University Center for Water and Society, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, IASNR (conference travel funding)

Introduction

• The Great Lakes watershed

• Economic, ecological, and cultural importance

• 20% of global surface freshwater supplies (EPA 2011)

• 8 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces

• Great Lakes Compact

• Climate change

• Impacts of humans on water quality and quantity

(www.barbara-spring.blogspot.com)

Literature Review

• Perceptions of water resources:

• Depend on the water source

• Related to development

• Vary with proximity to water

• Often differ between rural and urban residents

(Berenguer et.al. 2005; Brody et.al. 2004; DeLorme et.al. 2003; Nassauer et.al. 2004; Pumphrey et.al. 2008; Stedman and Hammer 2006; Suvedi et.al. 2000)

Literature Review (cont.)

• Water-related beliefs and behaviors:

• Often difficult to explain

• Related to standard of living

• Water typically considered a right or a good

• Few motivations to conserve

• Water problems: Typically the fault of “others”

(Corral-Verdugo et.al. 2002; Corral-Verdugo et.al. 2003; DeOliver 1999; Elizondo and Lofthouse 2010; Harlan et.al. 2009; Kaplowitz and Kerr 2003; Lam 1999; Lam 2006)

Literature Review (cont.)

• Great Lakes watershed

• Lakes: Concern over water-impacting development, invasive species, lake levels, fish

• Rivers/streams: Preference for natural appearance

• Wetlands: Conflicting values and beliefs

• Groundwater: Knowledge/perception is mixed

• Little known about consumption beliefs/behaviors

(Kaplowitz and Kerr 2003; Nassauer et.al. 2004; Stedman and Hammer 2006; Suvedi et.al. 2000)

• Knowledge gaps:

• Relevant research mostly conducted in arid environments and/or developing nations

• Few studies have looked at background variables in relation to behavior-relevant beliefs

• Little is known about how water-related beliefs, values, or behaviors may be impacted by climate change

Literature Review (cont.)

(Fishbein and Ajzen 2010)

Intention

Behavioral beliefs

Attitude towards the

behavior

Perceived behavioral

control

Perceived norms

Behavior

Control beliefs

Normative beliefs

Background factors

(Fishbein and Ajzen 2010)

Background factors

• Characteristics of local environment (rural/urban)• Type of residential water service (city/well)• Characteristics of local water resources• Proximity to water resources• Degree of water-related recreation• Ecological knowledge• Environmental concern• Perception of water as a right• Residence attributes

• Apartment/house/farm, size of home and lot• Number of people and cars in household

Hypotheses

1. People value larger or more visible water resources more than smaller or less visible ones.

2. People who live close to water resources value them more than people who live far from water resources.

3. People who believe others are conserving water will be more likely to conserve water than people who believe others are not conserving water

Research Design

• Semi-structured interviews

• 30-50 randomly-selected residents

• 6 case studies within basin

• Varying settings (rural/urban) and distance from the nearest Great Lake

• Mail survey: 500-1000 residents

• Analysis: Regression model using SPSS to test hypotheses and conceptual model

Implications of Research

• Gain insight into origins of values and beliefs related to water resources

• Explain how values and beliefs may or may not be related to water-impacting behaviors

• Quantify the predictive ability of relevant background factors

Implications of Research

• Characterize peoples’ perceptions of water resources in a water-rich environment

• Indicate which types of water resources may be at the greatest risk of negative impacts from human behaviors

• Gain insight into how people may or may not modify water-related behaviors in response to effects of climate change

Thanks!....Questions?