Values-based communication strategies for promoting conservation behavior in aquatic ecosystems

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) pose negative threats to social-ecological systems on a global scale. The risk of AIS transport by recreational anglers and boaters remains high, thus garnering research attention on how to encourage prevention behaviors. My dissertation seeks to build knowledge of the relationships among social psychological factors (e.g., values, risk perceptions) that shape human decision-making and messaging campaigns about AIS management in freshwater ecosystems. In my first study, I conducted a systematic review to understand how language was used in academic literature on AIS management over a 10-year period across the United States. I found that language use throughout 278 articles was predominantly negative and tied to social and ecological contexts surrounding biological invasions. These articles featured species-centered and human-centered message frames in relatively equal proportions. I also found that the use of terminology (e.g., ‘invasive’ vs. ‘introduced’) aligned with the stage of invasion, study objectives, and the biodiversity context of the study site. In my second study, I assessed the role of values and risk perceptions in predicting angler behavior through a survey of recreational anglers (n=788) across three U.S. states. Results of a manifest variable path model showed that risk perceptions directly predicted behavior, and that anglers’ biospheric values were strong and foundational to AIS risk perceptions. Further, while personal risk perceptions were lower than social risk perceptions, they had a stronger relationship with AIS prevention behavior, in that high personal risk perceptions were associated with more frequent participation in prevention behavior. Building on these results in my third study, I surveyed recreationists across Illinois (n=507) and conducted a message experiment to test the efficacy of values-framed messages. I found that AIS outreach messages framed to reflect self-transcendent values were processed more deeply (i.e., resulted in high elaboration) by recreational water users, indicating that values framing could be an effective tool for enhancing outreach messages. Together, the results of these three studies build theoretical knowledge of factors driving AIS-prevention behavior and inform communication strategies for promoting conservation initiatives that minimize the spread of AIS.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Natural Res & Env Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Golebie, Elizabeth J

Contributors dc:contributor

• van Riper, Carena
• Suski, Cory
• Larson, Eric
• Quick, Brian

• aquatic invasive species
• message framing
• environmental communication
• conservation psychology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Elizabeth Golebie

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115717

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F115717