Browsing by Author "Teel, Tara, advisor"

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Open Access
An evidence-based approach to evaluating the outcomes of conservation education
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Thomas, Rebecca E. W., author; Teel, Tara, advisor; Bruyere, Brett, advisor; Gavin, Michael, committee member; Pejchar, Liba, committee member
This dissertation responds to a need for theoretically-driven and applied approaches to conservation education that address modern-day conservation challenges. The two primary objectives of this dissertation are addressed in the form of two individual articles. First, Article 1 utilizes a systematic review approach to investigate evaluation of conservation education on a global scale in order to better understand 1) the temporal and spatial trends in conservation education program evaluations over the last 25 years (e.g., whether the frequency of program evaluations has changed both within and outside of the United States); 2) patterns that are evident in the types of conservation and/or social issues addressed through these programs; 3) metrics considered to indicate effectiveness of conservation education programs; and 4) which outcomes of these programs are evaluated (e.g., to what extent do evaluations focus on cognitive targets as well as behavioral, social or ecological outcomes) as well as the methods that have been used to draw conclusions about these outcomes. Findings indicated that evaluation of conservation education programs has increased over the last 25 years in countries around the world. Increasingly, conservation education programs are being developed in response to ecological and social issues, yet metrics to indicate effectiveness are rooted in cognition and behavior change. Three primary needs in the field of conservation education program evaluation emerged from this study and can inform the future direction of the field. First, there is a need to think more holistically about the outcomes of conservation education programs. Secondly, there is a need to consider the ways in which these outcomes are evaluated and reported. Finally, there is a need for longitudinal evaluation, particularly when attempting to capture ecological outcomes that may not be immediately apparent. Article 2 utilizes an applied, person-centered interview approach to address a need for more rigorous and culturally relevant evaluation of conservation education program outcomes that is focused on benefits beyond rote knowledge gain and considers community perspectives on metrics or indicators of program success in a rural community in Hawai'i. The study upon which this article is based sought to compare past and present learning about nature in terms of knowledge acquisition and the knowledge itself. Secondly, the study aimed to set the stage for the development of a culturally relevant and comprehensive quantitative evaluation instrument that could be used to document long-term outcomes of conservation education programs that seek to facilitate sharing of local environmental knowledge in Hawai'i.
Open Access
Applying social science to inform conservation solutions regarding owned outdoor cats in urbanizing landscapes
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Gramza, Ashley, author; Teel, Tara, advisor; Crooks, Kevin, advisor; VandeWoude, Susan, committee member; Bright, Alan, committee member
Free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus) incur and impose risks on ecosystems and represent a complex issue of critical importance to wildlife conservation and domestic cat and human health. There is an inherent social dimension to the issue of owned free-ranging cats, as humans are their caregivers and can contribute to the cause as well as the solution to this issue. To address this social component, we examined public risk perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs towards owned free-ranging cats along a gradient of urbanization via a survey of residents in two study areas in Colorado. Residents did not view all types of risks uniformly; they viewed the risks of cat predation on wildlife and carnivore predation on cats as more likely than the risks of disease transmission to and from wildlife. Additionally, risk perceptions were related to such factors as attitudes and general beliefs about cats, prior experiences with cats and their interactions with wildlife, and cat owner behavior. These findings provide support for the notion that changes in risk perceptions can result in behavior change, and they offer insight for development of communication campaigns aimed at promoting risk aversive behaviors and cat management strategies that are both acceptable to the public and have direct conservation implications. Our study can also be used as a model for further research focused on integrating social and biological information to promote conservation of wildlife and habitats.
Open Access
Conceptualizing values as part of a dynamic multilevel world
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Dietsch, Alia M., author; Teel, Tara, advisor; Manfredo, Michael, advisor; Gavin, Michael, committee member; Henry, Kimberly, committee member
Humans are engaged in complex relationships of adaptation and change with the environment, each affecting one another. These relationships (i.e., feedback loops) necessitate an increased understanding of the different components of social-ecological systems. However, these systems appear to operate differently depending on the levels and scales under investigation, making it difficult to fully conceptualize these interconnected phenomena as well as raising important questions. We narrow our focus on two specific areas of inquiry in the interest of explicating factors that influence social values, which in turn lead to the attitudes and behaviors that can either drive or alleviate the many environmental challenges we face. First, how might macro processes of social change at different levels affect individual-level thought, and what might this mean for biodiversity conservation and environmental protection? Second, can internal human cognitions transform into widespread societal beliefs about how the environment, including wildlife, should be treated? This dissertation presents two manuscripts designed to contribute to these areas of inquiry by considering how values are influenced by processes at different levels on a geopolitical scale, and how those values shape levels of cognition within individuals (an internal cognitive scale). The first chapter specifically focuses on understanding how socioeconomic advances at the county-level within the state of Washington are influencing new value priorities, and how these values lead to support for biodiversity conservation of species irrespective of human needs. For example, higher levels of income, education, and urbanization at both individual and county levels were associated with higher degrees of mutualism, a value orientation that prioritizes the needs of wildlife as similar to the needs of humans. Indeed, we found mutualism to be positively associated with support for wolves (Canis lupis) recolonizing the state despite the potential for livestock predation and concern for human safety. Results also indicate that these new value priorities can lead to social conflict among different segments of the public based on beliefs about how wildlife should be managed. This work demonstrates several key findings. First, broad changes in social systems lead to a fundamental shift in social values in such a way that clearly indicates social-ecological context matters. Second, these values lead to predictable patterns of response to actions that promote biodiversity conservation. However, those patterns of response vary across the landscape, providing further evidence of cross-level and cross-scale dynamics within systems. The second article casts social values as actors in a different, but equally important systems view complete with feedback loops. Specifically, social values are depicted as subject to the upward processes of emergence (micro-to-macro level) and the downward processes of immergence (macro-to-micro level). Our conceptualization acknowledges values as phenomena that emerge from individuals who are in turn shaped by pervasive social-ecological conditions (e.g., warfare, mass migrations, disease spread). Although processes of emergence are not directly studied in this manuscript, immergence is explored in two ways: (1) the effect of socioeconomic advances at a state level on individual expressions of postmaterialist values (values that tend to focus on the needs of others outside of self), and (2) the existence of widespread environmental attitudes associated with a prevalence of postmaterialist values. Only support for the second pathway of immergence was found, suggesting that individuals with postmaterialist values do indeed support protection of the environment, including wildlife, even at the expense of human interests such as economic development and recreation behaviors. In total, this dissertation is intended to provide a deeper look at the feedback loops between different levels of cognition and the world in which we live in the hopes of informing solutions to the grave environmental challenges we face.
Open Access
Evaluating the role of citizen science in the context of human-wildlife conflict management
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Adams, Morgan, author; Teel, Tara, advisor; Vaske, Jerry, committee member; Benson, Delwin, committee member
This thesis presents two manuscripts that explored the potential of citizen science programs to be utilized in urban centers that are experiencing heightened rates of human-wildlife conflict (HWC). In particular, we focused on human-coyote conflicts, which are an emerging problem in many cities throughout North America. Recent reports have shown that while coyotes typically pose a minimal threat to people, attacks on humans have recently escalated. Certain traditional methods such as lethal control for dealing with human-coyote conflict, and HWC more broadly, are increasingly considered unacceptable to the public, creating a need for management authorities to consider other alternatives. Citizen science, a method in which members of the public contribute to real-world research studies, is one tool that could be considered, as citizen science is thought to be a valuable mechanism for increasing citizens' knowledge of ecological systems and the scientific process, and engaging them in resource management. The overall purpose of this thesis was to determine the motivations and characteristics of citizen science participants and evaluate if involvement in these programs can in fact lead to desired changes in participant understanding and subsequent behavior, therefore offering a useful approach for assisting with HWC management. The purpose of the first paper was to evaluate the potential for a citizen science program called Coyote Watch to change participant understanding and subsequent behavior in the context of human-coyote conflict in the Denver Metro Area (DMA) of Colorado. Our first objective was to assess the effects of the program over time on participants' attitudes, beliefs, behavioral intentions, and knowledge regarding coyotes. Our second objective was to explore the broader impacts of the program, including the extent to which participants used their program education and observation experiences to take action in their communities to prevent and manage conflict with coyotes. Data were collected using a mixed methods approach, including on-site and online surveys and interviews that were administered to new and previously trained volunteers of Coyote Watch. Results indicated that participation in Coyote Watch is positively affecting volunteers in terms of how they relate to and think about coyotes and coyote-related issues in their communities. Qualitative data from open-ended survey questions and interviews corroborated quantitative findings and demonstrated that the program is not only providing participants with enhanced knowledge of coyotes and their ecology, but it is also empowering some of these individuals to take action to prevent and manage conflicts with coyotes. The second paper focused on understanding the characteristics of citizen science volunteers with the intent of being able to inform the development and marketing of future programs in an HWC context. We had three objectives for this case study investigation:1) assess volunteers' motivations for joining Coyote Watch and subsequently determine whether these motivations were similar to or different from those identified by previous research on volunteerism in environmental projects, 2) explore the extent to which volunteers represented the DMA resident population as a whole with respect to key demographic characteristics, and 3) compare Coyote Watch participants to respondents from a larger DMA resident survey in regards to their coyote-related attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral intentions. Data collection was accomplished using on-site and online surveys administered to Coyote Watch volunteers and through mailed and online surveys for the larger DMA study. Results indicated that volunteers often had more than one motivation for joining the program, such as an enjoyment of wildlife, a desire to participate in research and to inform others people about coyotes and coyote issues, and that they did in fact share some of the demographic characteristics of DMA residents as a whole. However, we also noted certain demographic differences between volunteers and the resident population, particularly with respect to gender, age, and education. Furthermore, results determined that Coyote Watch volunteers differed in some respects from respondents to the larger DMA-wide resident survey in their attitudes, beliefs and behavioral intentions regarding coyotes, as the volunteers had more positive general attitudes regarding coyotes, they were more likely to agree with advantages of having coyotes in their areas, and they were more likely to perform certain actions around their homes in order to reduce conflict with coyotes. As a whole, these studies demonstrated that many individuals who participated in Coyote Watch expressed a better understanding of coyote behavior and an ability to use their education to take measures to prevent and manage conflict. Additionally, these individuals may be similar to other residents in the DMA, but they tend to feel more positively toward coyotes and they are willing to take more steps to decrease negative interactions with coyotes. Thus, our findings suggest that citizen science programs may offer an innovative alternative method to augment traditional forms of HWC mitigation in urban settings.
Open Access
Human dimensions of lead in the environment from ammunition and fishing tackle
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Ross-Winslow, Danielle, author; Teel, Tara, advisor; Leong, Kirsten, committee member; Davies, Timothy, committee member
Significant attention has been directed in recent years toward examining and addressing the impacts of lead in the environment from ammunition and fishing tackle. Lead issues are relevant to those interested in protecting the health of humans, wildlife, and ecosystems, such as national and regional land management agencies, national and state agencies that manage fish and wildlife resources, national and state health and human services agencies, and non-profit conservation and environmental research organizations. The topic of lead in the environment from ammunition and fishing tackle is also highly controversial among stakeholders. Strong and conflicting public opinions about the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle make decision-making particularly challenging for agencies. This thesis presents two manuscripts that explore how human dimensions research can inform this process by providing a more adequate representation of diverse viewpoints and enhancing the ability of various entities interested in this issue to identify likely sources of controversy related to potential management activities, communicate more effectively with the public, and develop more successful management solutions. The first paper synthesizes the relevant literature regarding the use of lead in recreational hunting and fishing with specific objectives to overview: 1) trends in lead use in the U.S. and emerging awareness of the hazards to human health and the natural environment; 2) impacts of lead from hunting and fishing and specific measures, including regulatory and non-regulatory action, that have been introduced by agencies and organizations in the U.S. to reduce these impacts; and 3) results of recent human dimensions investigations aimed at addressing this issue. The second paper documents a basic interpretive qualitative research study that was undertaken in the summer of 2012. The purpose of this study was to better understand the meaning people assign to issues involving the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle. More specific objectives related to (a) how stakeholders make sense of actions that are being pursued, or could be taken, to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate negative impacts to the environment, wildlife, and/or humans; and (b) what are crucial aspects of human thought about lead issues and management actions that can contribute to an understanding of the controversy surrounding this topic. The findings were able to identify different attitudinal positions with regard to lead use; different preferences for management strategies; and that differences were associated with conflict. More importantly, the research explored elements that were key to how meaning was constructed by individuals that correlated to these different elements.
Open Access
Investing in tomorrow's natural resource stewards: how understanding target audiences can improve efforts to reconnect youth with nature
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Thomas, Rebecca, author; Teel, Tara, advisor; Bruyere, Brett, committee member; Davies, Timothy, committee member
This thesis presents two manuscripts that explored how conservation education efforts could be improved through development of more targeted educational initiatives informed by research. The overall research and outreach initiative, upon which these manuscripts were based, encompassed the ideals of the "No Child Left Inside" movement, which grew in part from Richard Louv's (2008) best-selling book Last Child in the Woods. Underlying this movement are linkages between time spent outside as a child and overall mental and physical health and well- being as well as future commitment to environmental stewardship. Broad scale societal and demographic changes (e.g., urbanization, economic growth, increasing levels of income and education, and population growth, among others) impact how children and families interact with nature. Environmental education can contribute to addressing these changes by facilitating interactions with nature. The overall purpose of this thesis was to evaluate environmental education programs offered by state fish and wildlife agencies that would account for public values toward wildlife by reaching out to diverse target audiences, making both methodological and theoretical contributions to the field of environmental education. The purpose of the first paper was to evaluate the Lincoln Safari, an established, successful program developed to encourage families to explore natural and cultural heritage sites within an urban area. The objectives of evaluating this program were to 1) assess the diversity of participants in the program in terms of their values toward wildlife, 2) document how participating in the Lincoln Safari influenced conservation behaviors, and 3) understand key elements that attracted families to participate in the Lincoln Safari. Data were collected via a mixed-methods approach that included an on-site survey administered to participants in the 2010 Lincoln Safari program in Lincoln, Nebraska, monthly follow-up surveys administered via e- mail, and focus group interviews with a select group of participating families. Results indicated that the Lincoln Safari has been successful in attracting a variety of age groups and wildlife value orientation types. Quantitative analysis of engagement in environmental stewardship behaviors showed that there was a link between the number of years a family had participated in the Lincoln Safari and the amount of time they reported spending outdoors as a family over the past year as well as their engagement in recycling behaviors. Furthermore, individuals with certain value orientations toward wildlife were more likely than others to report increases in other environmental stewardship behaviors. Focus group interviews corroborated these findings, revealing, for example, that Lincoln Safari participation resulted in increased mindfulness of the environmental impact of daily decisions. Additionally, these focus group interviews revealed elements of the Lincoln Safari that made it particularly appealing to families. Overall, families found it attractive because it awakened a sense of adventure, facilitated multigenerational learning, and helped families to create memories. The second paper documents a methodological approach for studying outcomes of youth participation in an environmental education program that included service learning and integration of cultural heritage values in the Ka`u region of the Island of Hawai`i. The purpose of this study was to learn about how the integration of cultural heritage values into the program affected how participants related to nature, and to develop a methodological approach for evaluating environmental education programs for underserved groups in culturally sensitive areas. This study was based in part upon previously conducted interviews with key elders in the community that highlighted the importance of building upon existing partnerships, working with local residents already connected within the community, and integrating cultural heritage values into environmental education programs in Ka`u in order to maximize interest and participation in programs in this region. Researcher observations, photovoice, document analysis and semi- structured interviews were then used to assess a recent 2011 offering of the Imi Pono No Ka Aina (Seeking Excellence for the Land) program in Ka`u. Participants' program portfolios, which consisted of participants' written program materials, researcher observations, photographs and interview transcriptions, were analyzed to better understand the impact of the program on participants' views of nature and wildlife. Analysis showed that incorporating cultural heritage values into the Imi Pono no ka Aina program in Ka`u was successful in connecting Hawai`ian youth from Ka`u to nature, and that employing a mix of qualitative methodologies yielded a more holistic understanding of the participants' experiences than relying on a single data source.
Open Access
Nature's impact on tomorrow's youth: cognitive and non-cognitive factors affecting youth connection to nature and environmental stewardship
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Neubert, Salme M., author; Teel, Tara, advisor; Bright, Alan, committee member; Knight, David, committee member; Canetto, Silvia Sara, committee member
This dissertation investigates the developmental trajectory of nature connection and its implications for environmental stewardship. While previous research has examined these relationships, few studies have analyzed both the cognitive and non-cognitive dimensions of connection to nature among youth. This study explores the capacity to develop this connection, identifying cognitive and non-cognitive components and their association with environmental stewardship. The findings support existing literature linking higher levels of nature connection to increased engagement in environmental stewardship. Path analysis examined direct and indirect effects of connection to nature, revealing how cognitive and non-cognitive factors significantly contribute to environmental stewardship. These findings contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms underlying connection to nature. Addressing disparities in access to nature experiences among youth populations is crucial for promoting lifelong environmental stewardship and ensuring environmental justice. Overall, this dissertation advances knowledge on nature connection in childhood and its implications for environmental sustainability.
Open Access
Wildlife governance in an era of social change: how science, politics, and culture influence conservation governance
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020) Sullivan, Leeann Marie, author; Manfredo, Michael, advisor; Teel, Tara, advisor; Gruby, Rebecca, committee member; McIvor, David, committee member
Wildlife conservation faces unprecedented ecological challenges in the years ahead. But it is the human dimensions of conservation, from competing values to inequities in access to power, that pose the most significant threat to these efforts in the near term. As values toward wildlife shift in response to modernization and more people become engaged in political activism around conservation issues, wildlife organizations in the public and non-profit sector face calls for governance reform to bring a broader diversity of the public into conservation efforts. Such inclusive and pluralistic models of conservation governance, however, mark a significant divergence from technocratic approaches of the past that prioritize input from technically trained experts over members of the public and root almost exclusively in domination ideologies. The resulting conflict between wildlife conservation centered on science and expertise and the democratic belief that all people should have a say in the management and protection of their natural resources marks a significant contradiction at the heart of wildlife conservation. Assessing the potential for achieving more participatory conservation within this frame requires a deeper understanding of the cultural, social, and political drivers of technocratic governance and how both internal and external factors serve to reinforce these political practices. In this dissertation, I draw out the historical, institutional, and cultural foundations of technocracy in wildlife conservation and their implications for achieving a participatory turn. In Chapter 2, I outline how historic paradigms for scientific expertise and domination values in U.S. wildlife management shapes the frame through which practitioners perceive their organizations as adaptable and accountable and ultimately influence perceptions of the need for change. In Chapters 3 and 4, I explore how existing governance modes are culturally reinforced, first through an internal "technocratic mentality" which proposes that scientifically-trained experts are solely and uniquely qualified to make decisions about wildlife and second, through external cultural pressures that influence governance processes in response to broader societal pressures for hierarchy and social order. Taken together, these chapters illustrate the complex and socially embedded nature of power in wildlife conservation and offer new insight into the potential for achieving governance reform in an era of social change.
Open Access
Wildlife value orientations among diverse audiences in the American Southwest: helping state wildlife agencies broaden their constituent base
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Chase, Loren, author; Teel, Tara, advisor; Manfredo, Mike, advisor; Bruyere, Brett, committee member; Boone, Randall, committee member
There is growing recognition among wildlife professionals in the United States that although their decisions largely focus on topics biological in nature, the social, political, and economic ramifications of these decisions are considerable as well. As a result, social science is increasingly being included in the wildlife management decision-making process. At the same time, the constituencies that entrust state wildlife management agencies are diversifying, in terms of both their cultural heritage and their wildlife-related interests. To improve the effectiveness of agency efforts aimed at maintaining support from long-established stakeholders while simultaneously embracing emerging publics, there is a need to better understand the characteristics of diverse audiences. Wildlife value orientation (WVOs) theory offers an advantageous framework for systematically understanding the wildlife-related beliefs and interests of various segments of society. This dissertation investigates WVOs and their application across three diverse spectra: culture, methodology, and generations, each addressed in its own manuscript and through research conducted as part of a series of case studies occurring in Arizona. In Chapter II, WVOs are compared across cultures; specifically, this chapter explores possible differences and similarities in WVOs between Latinos and Caucasians. In addition to measuring WVOs, this study collected information about life values, wildlife-related attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral intentions. Results indicated that Latinos perceive wildlife differently than Caucasians; however there was significant heterogeneity within Latino communities in the way they interacted with and related to wildlife. These findings provide managerial insight into engaging Latino communities in wildlife conservation issues as well as offer theoretical contributions by expanding the application of the WVO concept cross-culturally. In Chapter III, we introduce and test a mixed methods approach for measuring WVOs within Latino communities. As agencies are increasingly charged with managing wildlife for a broader clientele, including people of diverse demographic and cultural backgrounds, it raises questions about the potential limitations of traditional survey methodologies for cross-cultural WVO assessment. In the interest of addressing this concern we examined WVOs in Latino communities in Arizona using two quantitative and two qualitative methodologies. We found evidence that traditional quantitative WVO surveys may still be reliable for diverse audiences; however, we also identify scenarios wherein other methodologies may be advantageous. In Chapter IV, WVOs are compared across generations. As various cohorts of people across time experience different societal conditions believed to play a role in WVO formation, they can be grouped according to similar formative experiences. These generations experience various levels of urbanization, affluence, education, and technology, all contributing to distinctive life values. Concurrent with modernization is a value shift that is altering the way people perceive and interact with wildlife, specifically increasing the egalitarian perception that wildlife may serve as potential companions capable of trusting relationships with humans and who deserve caring and rights similar to those of humans. We confirmed there is a differential in the way generations perceive wildlife, suggesting agencies may want to consider engaging each cohort differently, according to how they relate to wildlife. These findings may assist agencies as they continue to engage broader constituencies and attempt to remain salient to younger generations. Overall, we found WVO theory to be a functional and robust framework for examining people's perceptions of wildlife across cultures, methodologies, and generations. Because of its durability, WVO theory shows promise for unifying research on human-wildlife relationships in a way that transcends space, time, and contextual situations. Additionally, WVOs have the practical utility of helping agencies understand the social context of wildlife conservation, and may assist agencies in comprehending changing societal conditions so they may be better prepared for the future of wildlife conservation.