Place Attachment and Environmentally Responsible Behavior As A result of

Participation in BHIC Programs �

Brooke Davis !Colorado State University!

!

Background

!   Place Attachment Theory (Vaske, et al.) !

!   Place Identity - “the personal and collective meanings that intersect at a particular physical site”!

!   Place Dependence - “reflects the importance of a resource in providing amenities necessary for desired activities” !

!   Place Attachment - “arrises when settings (i.e. local parks) are imbued with meanings that create or enhance one’s emotional tie to a natural resource” !

How can we use place attachment?

!   Vaske, et al. surveyed participants in a junior ranger program!

!   Place-based learning - do students learn better when what they are learning can be tied to a specific location that is important to them? !

!   “...the association between a sense of place, how the self gets related to the environment, and sense making related to conservation-oriented advocacy.” - Cantrill, et al. !

Hypothesis

Place !Attachment!+!

How many times has respondent visited Bald Head Island!

I hypothesized that the number of times a respondent has previously visited Bald Head Island would have a strong positive correlation with that individual’s level of place

attachment. !

Hypothesis

Current Environmental !

Behaviors!

Importance of !Behaviors After !

Program Participation!

+ ∆ !

I hypothesized that, after completing a program with BHIC, respondents would rank the importance of environmentally responsible behaviors at the same level or higher than their

current participation in those behaviors.!

Methods !   Distributed surveys at every program for one week!

!   Focused on the adult population (18 and up) !

!   Respondents were genera!y surveyed after the program!

!   n=80!

!   General questions about visitors’ previous experiences on BHI !

!   8 questions measuring place attachment !

!   5 general environmental behaviors evaluated!

Place Attachment !  Place Identity !!   I identify strongly with this place."

!   I think a lot about coming here."

!   I am very attached to this place."

!   I feel like this place is a part of me."

!  Place Dependence !!   This place is the best for what I like to do. "

!   I get more satisfaction out of visiting this place than any other."

!   I would not substitute any other area for doing what I do here."

!   No other place can compare to this area."

www.bhic.org!

Results: �Level of Place Attachment Based On Number of Previous

Visits to Bald Head Island

% Who Responded

with “Agree” or “Strongly

Agree”!

Place Attachment Variable!

r=0.386**! r=0.361**! r=0.511**!r=0.442**! r=0.597**! r=0.602**! r=0.588**! r=0.427**!

** = Significant correlation!with “number of previous visits”!

Results: �Current Environmental Behaviors vs. Importance of

Environmental Behaviors After Program

Environmental Behavior!

+0.455! +0.892! +0.671! +1.400! +1.190!

What part of your experience during this program had the most impact on your visit?

!   “Nature is very fascinating!”!

!   “The interns were fantastic!”!

!   “The educational aspect was very important for our family. Kids respect nature more when they understand it better.” !

!   “The movie was interesting and made me want to help with conservation efforts.”!

!   “It was turtle-y awesome!” !

www.bhic.org!

Sources of Error & Areas for Improvement

!   Sample Size !

!   Timing of survey distribution - some surveys filled out in middle of program, some filled out after program!

!   Some programs have more participants than others!

!   with a larger sample size, may be worth looking at how individual programs influence environmental behaviors!

!   respondents participating in multiple programs throughout the week!

Discussion & Recommendations !   Based on participation in our programs, visitors believe

that volunteering with environmental organizations is important!

!   Volunteer opportunities?!

!   Provide resources for people to find out how to get involved with environmental organizations in their hometown!

!   Survey youth who participate in summer camps!

!   Survey BHI residents using place attachment theory!

!  What influences the decision to purchase/build a house here?!

Questions??