7

A NOVEL MOTIVATOR FOR ENGAGING PARK

NEIGHBORS IN ECOLOGICAL

RESTORATION PROJECTS

Carin E. Vadala & Robert D. Bixler: Clemson University

Terry L. Robison: Cleveland Metroparks

Introduction

Issues of flooding, erosion, pesticides washed into the river, invasive species and nuisance wildlife

Residents whose property is either adjacent or near park boundaries can play a role in reducing these problems

Residents can help slow storm water and reduce flooding and erosion by installing rain gardens and rain barrels on their property.

Introduction

Introduction

Problem Statement

Since altruistic environmental attitudes have fallen short as explanations for Environmentally Responsible Behaviors (ERB), self-interests will be used to further predict ERB. An understanding of stakeholder’s self-interests, intrinsic satisfaction and competence may help urban park reserves construct a situation where ERB becomes the most reasonable choice.

First Generation ERB

Self report (Cordano, Welcomer & Scherer, 2003; Dunlap, Van Liere, Mertig & Jones, 2000; Geller & Lasley, 1985; Noe & Snow, 1990)

Moral norm activation of altruism (Guagano, Stern & Dietz, 1995; Schwartz, 1973)

Attitudes, subjective norms and intentions to behave (Azjen, 1991)

Self report and observation (Corral-Verdugo, 1997)

Second Generation ERB

Value-Belief-Norm, moving beyond measuring attitudes and behavioral intentions (Stern, Dietz, Kalof & Guagnano, 1995; Stern, Dietz, Abel, Guagnano & Kalof, 1999)

Multiply determined motivations and different types of environmental outcomes (DeYoung, 2000; Stern & Dietz, 1994)

Typology of four types of environmental behavior and four sets of causal variables (Stern, 2000)

Behavior Typology

Types of environmental behavior

environmental activism, non-activist behaviors in a public sphere, private-sphere environmentalism, and other environmentally significant behaviors

Four sets of causal variables

attitudinal factors, contextual forces, personal capabilities, and habit or routine

(Stern, 2000)

Evaluating Behavior

Outcome-based measures

Response to incentives, coercion and reinforcement

Context-based measures

Behavior is result of context, setting or environmental motivation

Useful for measuring whether ERB stems from intrinsic motivation and non-environmental motivations

(De Young, 2000)

Motivations

ERB driven by self-interest, intrinsic satisfaction, frugality, direct participation, luxury and access to novel things, competence

Avoidance of situations where people are not competent

Knowing and doing are two different things (Corral-Verdugo, 1997)

(De Young, 2000)

Methods

Two-phase design Focus group

Survey methods

750 Residents selected from seven urban park reserves in Northeastern Ohio, usable sample of 686

Modified Dillman approach yielded a return of 364 surveys, response rate 53%

Methods

Created a variable to identify whether participants enjoyed working with their hands (alpha=.86)

Two variables measured concern for issues in the urban park reserves

Concern for pesticides and fertilizers, plants spreading (alpha=.89)

Concern for frequent and excessive flooding (alpha=.88)

Enjoyment of gardening (alpha=.78)

Logistic regression

Results

 

Model 1 Install Rain Garden

(N=208)

Model 2 Install Rain Barrel (N=198)

Hands on .34* (1.41) .27 (1.31)CMP Concern for Pesticides .46** (1.58) .36** (1.43)CMP Concern for flooding NS NSRecreation Activity Gardening .745** (2.11) .69** (2.00)

Logistic Regression coefficient **p<.05, *p<.1 (odds ratio in parentheses)

Hands-on personality Rain garden

Low value: 21% more likely to install a rain garden

Average value: 26% more likely to install a rain garden

High value: 35% more likely to install a rain garden

Rain barrel- not predictive

Concern for pesticides

Rain garden Least concerned: 19% probability to

install a rain garden

Average concern: 27% probability to install a rain garden

Highly concerned: 38% probability to install a rain garden

Rain barrel Least concerned: 23% probability to

install a rain barrel

Average on concern: 31% probability to install a rain barrel

Highly concerned: 39% probability to install a rain barrel

Gardening for recreation Rain garden

Least prefer gardening: 15% probability to install a rain garden

Average interest in gardening: 28% probability to install a rain garden

High interest in gardening: 45% probability to install a rain garden

Rain barrel

Least prefer gardening: 18% probability to install a rain barrel

Average interest in garden: 31% probability to install a rain barrel

High interest in gardening: were 48% probability to install a rain barrel

Summary of results

Results strongly suggest that environmental concerns and enjoyment of the leisure activity gardening motivate an interest in installing rain barrels and rain gardens. (De Young, 2000; Stern & Dietz, 1994)

De Young and Stern’s notion of multiply determined behaviors is supported by the lack of predictive power of flooding as an environmental concern and the self interest in gardening. (DeYoung, 2000; Stern, 2000)

Implications Participation in (some)

outdoor recreation positively associated with environmental concern, social worlds would overlap (Teisl & O’brien, 2003; Unruh, 1980; Choi, Loomis & Ditton, 1994)

Foster leisure interests (Iso Ahola, 1979; Tinsley & Tinsley, 1986)

Practitioners should analyze desired ERB in terms of attitudes, knowledge, self interest behaviors and related constraints.