Presentation Abstract

Washington State University Mason County Extension has been actively involved in environmental outreach and behavior change programs and in that role, has had multiple opportunities to gather audience research in partnership with other organizations. Research has focused on septic maintenance, livestock management, SMP regulations, shoreline planting as well as general attitudes toward BMPs (such as picking up pet waste) and personal values. Participants in audience research were shoreline residents as well as upland residents. Key findings will be summarized and their implication for effective messaging and outreach techniques will be discussed. These include: • Perception of messaging that focuses generally on Puget Sound vs. messaging about specific local issues • Barriers to septic inspection • Barriers to proper management of manure from livestock • Barriers to planting shoreline vegetation As a result of this research, messaging was developed that appealed to people’s sense of and pride in place and people’s concern for the health of themselves and their family. When appropriate, incentives were used to help motivate behavior. The messaging and outreach strategies that were developed and implemented for each of the issues will be summarized, as well as evaluation of the programs.

Session Title

Session S-03H: Social Science Strategies for Ecosystem Recovery: On-the-Ground Applications of Social Science

Conference Track

Social Science Plus

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)

Document Type

Event

Start Date

30-4-2014 3:30 PM

End Date

30-4-2014 5:00 PM

Location

Room 607

Genre/Form

conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)

Contributing Repository

Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Environmental protection--Washington (State)--Mason County--Citizen participation; Social participation--Washington (State)--Mason County

Geographic Coverage

Mason County (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)

Rights

This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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Apr 30th, 3:30 PM Apr 30th, 5:00 PM

Knowing Your Audience: Lessons for Environmental Behavior Change from Mason County, WA

Room 607

Washington State University Mason County Extension has been actively involved in environmental outreach and behavior change programs and in that role, has had multiple opportunities to gather audience research in partnership with other organizations. Research has focused on septic maintenance, livestock management, SMP regulations, shoreline planting as well as general attitudes toward BMPs (such as picking up pet waste) and personal values. Participants in audience research were shoreline residents as well as upland residents. Key findings will be summarized and their implication for effective messaging and outreach techniques will be discussed. These include: • Perception of messaging that focuses generally on Puget Sound vs. messaging about specific local issues • Barriers to septic inspection • Barriers to proper management of manure from livestock • Barriers to planting shoreline vegetation As a result of this research, messaging was developed that appealed to people’s sense of and pride in place and people’s concern for the health of themselves and their family. When appropriate, incentives were used to help motivate behavior. The messaging and outreach strategies that were developed and implemented for each of the issues will be summarized, as well as evaluation of the programs.