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
Included in
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.
