Empirical estimation and comparison of observer perceptions relating to vegetative patterns /
Public acceptance of a management strategy is related to the collective perceptions of stakeholders who have a vested interest, and voice, in some aspect of landscape management. The concept of vested interest may take many forms and is not necessarily inclusive, permanent, or reflective of expert...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
2000.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=727853061&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | Public acceptance of a management strategy is related to the collective perceptions of stakeholders who have a vested interest, and voice, in some aspect of landscape management. The concept of vested interest may take many forms and is not necessarily inclusive, permanent, or reflective of expert knowledge. Differences in perception often represent a source of conflict between stakeholders and may result in management strategies that are detrimental to biogeophysical processes. There is a need to quantitatively estimate differences in perception about management strategies to assure efficacy and equality in dispute resolution and to assist in design and implementation of ecologically sound/sustainable management strategies. This study modified a visual assessment methodology to generate quantity perceptions about the acceptability of vegetative patterns representing different management strategies. Groups of observers rated range sites based on their perceptions about the value of different vegetative patterns. The observers were then provided with an educational message regarding the ecological significance of the patterns and asked to re-rank the sites. Changes in the ratings between and within groups were estimated before and after the educational message. Thus, the methodological approach provided a means to identify and evaluate perceptual differences between observer groups, evaluate changes in perceptions, and characterize attributes of vegetational patterns acceptable to all groups. The study revealed that demographically similar observers share similar perceptions regarding the meaning of vegetative patterns and different groups have different perceptions regarding the significance of the patterns. A brief, directed educational message was found to be effective in changing the perceptions; post-message perceptions were similar across all groups. Knowledge about differences between groups provides a manager with greater flexibility in evaluation and choice of strategies. Management goals can be achieved by formulating plans resulting in vegetative patterns acceptable to diverse constituents. In some instances, acceptability of specific vegetative patterns to observers can be modified by education. The methodology provides a useful tool to estimate existing observer perceptions or to estimate change in response to dissemination of information about the impact of alternative management practices. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Rangeland Ecology and Management". |
| Physical Description: | xi, 127 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-107). |