Educator Self-Study Module

STEP 4. Collect audience information relevant to the environmental practice and specific behaviors

I. Introduction  

• The “Conservation Planning Environment”
  
• Social and cultural issues are important
  
  • Case Study I: Anthropology and environmental problems in the U.S.: The case of groundwater contamination
    
• Active participation of community members is vital to short and long term success
  
• Natural resource professionals can incorporate social dimensions in their work
  
• What are social assessment tools and what can they do for natural resource professionals?
  
  • Table 1: Recommended Tools and Descriptions
    
  • Further information: Triangulation in Research
    
• References

II. Is there a social dimension to a particular environmental concern?

• How to figure out if there is a social dimension
  
  • Case Study II:  Getting started with social assessment tools
    
• When should outreach educators investigate the social dimension?
  
• References

III. What methodologies or technologies are available for exploring the social dimensions of a particular environmental concern?

• Introduction
  
• Linking to pre-existing information
  
  • Table 2: Sample sources of background information
    
• Using social assessment tools
  
  • Case Study III: Testing a fact sheet about toxic substances in fish
    
  • Case Study IV: P-Free for Lake Ripley
    
• Tools recommended for natural resource professionals
  
  • Table 3: Specific assessment tools and references
    
• References

IV. How can a natural resource professional select a social assessment tool?

• Guidelines for selecting a social assessment tool
  
  • Table 4: Skills recommended for effective use of social assessment tools
    
• Table 5: The pros and cons of using different recommended tools
  
• Which social assessment tools have the most potential for the natural resource professional?
  
  • Table 6: Participatory action research methods
    
• References

V. What support do natural resource professionals need and what options are available?

• To implement social assessment tools?
  
• To analyze and integrate results into their work?
  
• References

Acknowledgements:
Step 4 of the self-guide module was prepared by Micah Morton, University of Wisconsin Department of Anthropology, 2007, with special thanks to:

• Lorna M. Butler, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology and Cultural Anthropology, Iowa State University
• Barbara McDonald, Ph.D., Education Specialist, USDA Forest Service
• Theresa Trainor, M.A., Program Analyst, US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds

Choosing Effective Outreach Techniques

• STEPS SIMPLIFIED: Flowchart for Step #4
  PDF 16 KB

• TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: Worksheet
  PDF 44 KB

• PRACTICE: Step #4
  PDF 45 KB

STEPS

Introduction

1. Describe the environmental concern or opportunity.

2. Identify preliminary target audience(s).

3. Determine specific actions citizens need to take to accomplish your management goal.

4. Collect audience information relevant to the environmental practices and specific behaviors

5. Assess potential for adoption of single behaviors and the environmental practice.

6. Select single behaviors for intervention focus.

7. Select intervention technique(s).