The challenge of self-enhancement bias for educational programs designed to encourage natural shorelines

Amato

2015

Science Communication

Self Cite

This study proposes including variables related to information exposure as background variables in a theory of planned behavior (TPB) model. Minimizing the spread of aquatic invasive species by anglers provides context. A survey was administered to anglers that included TPB and information channel items. Regression analysis found that exposure to information from different channels was associated with TPB variables, though the direction and strength varied. Including information exposure in a TPB model may clarify underlying mechanisms in environmental behavior change campaigns.

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 92%

Incorporating Information Exposure Into a Theory of Planned Behavior Model to Enrich Understanding of Proenvironmental Behavior

Witzling

Amato

2015

Science Communication

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“…The need for broad-based popular support has been noted in watershed planning case studies from both developed and developing countries (Sharma and Wagley 1996, Horton 2003, Moran and Woods 2008. Insights from social science can provide valuable recommendations for increasing that support and participation in outreach programs to protect lakes (Shaw et al 2011, 2012, Amato et al 2012. Better understanding of how individuals make decisions about their shoreline property could lead to better communication and greater cooperation between private land owners and the agencies and organizations working to protect our shared water resources.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One simple act that can improve buffer quality is to refrain from excessive mowing or cutting. For many properties around residential lakes, the state of shoreline vegetation is a direct result of actions or decisions by the property owner (Amato et al 2012). Many other factors also have an impact, such as region, lake type, parcel size, soil characteristics, and state at initial time of purchase, to name just a few.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Property owner beliefs and goals related to shoreline maintenance behaviors

Amato

Lake and Reservoir Management

Haack

et al. 2015

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Individual differences in shoreline maintenance behaviors are likely partially attributable to individual differences in relevant beliefs and goals. Lake property owners can help reduce the impact of development by maintaining a vegetated buffer on their shoreline, as opposed to grooming an expansive manicured lawn. A survey mailed to residential lake property owners in Wisconsin (n returned = 155, response rate = 64%) measured lake-specific beliefs and goals and self-reported frequency of engaging in 4 behaviors counterproductive to shoreline health. Analysis revealed those counterproductive behaviors were negatively associated with endorsement of biospheric beliefs and positively associated with stated relevance of human usage goals (p < 0.01 for all). Recommendations for lake managers and environmental educators, particularly the importance of aesthetic preferences, are discussed.

“…One cost-effective way to improve degraded lakes is riparian buffers (Amato, Shaw, & Haack, 2012; Kramer et al, 2006). To accomplish this goal, one approach used by county land and conservation departments and other stakeholder groups focused on protecting lakes is to subsidize or discount the costs of restoring plants that lakeshore property owners can use to reestablish native vegetation in more highly developed areas.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Importantly, previous researchers suggest that the way in which coupons are framed may impact the rates in which they are redeemed (Yin & Dubinsky, 2004). However, little research to date has explored how to increase lakeshore property owners’ participation in programs designed to increase natural foliage along the lake’s edge to provide new wildlife habitat and protect water quality (for an exception see Amato, Shaw, & Haack, 2012). Drawing from the fields of social marketing and behavioral economics, this study explores which communication strategies might be more effective in pursuing these aims.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing Two Direct Mail Strategies to Sell Native Plants in a Campaign to Promote Natural Lake Shorelines

Social Marketing Quarterly

Radler

Haack

2012

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Increased residential development around lakeshores is associated with reduced wildlife habitat, lower biodiversity, and degraded water quality. One way to improve degraded lakeshores is riparian buffers. To accomplish this goal, one approach used by stakeholder groups focused on protecting lakes is to subsidize the costs of restoring native plants that lakeshore property owners can reestablish in more highly developed areas of their lakeshore property. Little research has explored how to increase participation in these programs. Two different coupons were mailed out randomly to subscribers of a county lakes and rivers association located in northwest Wisconsin. The message strategy tested builds on the “zero-price effect,” which posits 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 off” with the “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.