Masters of Science - Human Dimensions of Wave Energy Research

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Well hello COAS…I’m here today to share with you theinteresting research I’ve been working on funded by the Oregon Wave Energy Trust and Oregon SeaGrant. My advisors are Flaxen Conway, Brent Steel, and Mark Needham. From the title you may immediately notice this is not a study of wave energy as it relates to characterizing the wave climate, economic or ecological effects; although those are very interesting topics. I have, however, been considering the extent to which the perceived wave technology market and environmental impacts affects to Oregonians and what they feel in becoming involved in this. Some of the preliminary results suggest that where people fall on their ideas about tourism and resource extraction in general determines their beliefs and ideals about Wave development.

Ok, my talk is going to briefly describe the Human Dimensions of Wave Energy Research Program which has 6 other graduate students on it. Our backgrounds cover the whole gamut which I believe is a great complement to this study. I’ll then share what’s at stake, based on my understanding at this point. Right now I think the willingness of decision makers to incorporate social mitigation measure into the final plan, like amending the territorial sea plan is currently high.The long-term goal is to move toward commercially viable (long term) projects and short-term goal is to assess baseline data, such as social impacts to Oregon.

The project itself has a broad wide-sweeping look at the Human Dimensions of Wave Energy Development with Oregon as the focus. The way that’s parceled out among 6 different graduate students. I’m doing 2 things right now; first, I’m identifying who’s talking to whom in the formation of, and more established organized interest groups. And second, I’m doing this by conducting interviews with key representatives of those interest groups.Our team is interdisciplinary and one of us is presenting both the historical and developing legal and policy frameworks for the development and deployment of viable wave energy technologies. Another person is looking at how all the policy players involved in WE development are interacting and how their policy preferences or core beliefs are affecting some of the actions that they take, essentially to effect some of these wave energy outcomes. Working closely with this person who’s assessing infrastructure and the formation of coalitions I’m finding the groups already formed to learn about the scope and depth of their knowledge.Our anthropologist is examining the cultural makeup of 3 coastal communities through ethnography. Another person is looking at WE development from an international comparison, so; for example, how is Portugal and the Scandinavian countries doing wave energy development versus how we’re doing it here. Another person is doing comparative research from a sustainability standpoint comparing Wave Energy technology to other types, like wind, solar, etc.Just as a little side note I put in the major transoceanic undersea cables for your benefit. You see; the proposed wave installations, like the one off of Coos Bay, are most likely going to focus on the areas where major supplies of electricity come ashore and connect to our power grid. The logistics of it all do connect to the perceived social impacts in these key communities and this needs to better understood.

If we are going to investigate the environmental dimensions we should also consider the human dimensions. Interest group perceptions of promising strategies to maximize highly visible political systems within the constraints of their budgets will be influenced by the political structures they face, you know? So why do we care, right? Well, who feels threatened by wave energy development and who perceives it as an opportunity; or maybe somewhere in between? The social sciences want to answer 3 things here: 1. are the opinions observed of a fortuitous nature or attributed to bona fide concerns shared across the groups, 2. if the measured beliefs and attitudes are real, how large or wide-sweeping is it in Oregon, and 3. does the information I gather have practical significance or importance…If so, a model of the interest group perceptions will verify this information for me by testing the strength and relationship between my themes and variables selected.The makeup of these groups are vast…many of us in this room are involved in interest groups, associations, advocacy groups, that would like to have a seat at the table when decisions impacting us are made. I have segmented the interest groups into 5 broad categories and 3 representatives from each category are being interviewed.

1. are the opinions observed of a fortuitous nature or attributed to bona fide concerns shared across the groups, 2. if the measured beliefs and attitudes are real, how large or wide-sweeping is it in Oregon, and 3. does the information I gather have practical significance or importance…If so, a model of the interest group perceptions will verify this information for me by testing the strength and relationship between my themes and variables selected.The makeup of these groups are vast…many of us in this room are involved in interest groups, associations, advocacy groups, that would like to have a seat at the table when decisions impacting us are made. I have segmented the interest groups into 5 broad categories and 3 representatives from each category are being interviewed.

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To obtain preliminary data about the scope and depth of their knowledge about wave energy development interest group representatives are being asked what sources and strategies of information exchange they utilized internally to share wave energy news with their constituents. Understanding the where, when, why, and how interest groups believewave installations will effect themI intend to measure their perspectives and how this relates or differs from the organization’s formal stand, and how this could provide important information for the design of a framework to shape responsible development of wave energy technology. In other words, to scale membership preferences to from the most wanted outcomes to the least wanted outcomes. And as I shared integrating the HOW groups perceive wave energy with the WHY groups do or do not engage in the process, and maybe form up coalitions -- coupled with measures of well-being from specific coastal communities a more practical support for Human Dimensions research will hopefully inspire programs in our planning and budgetary processes to direct monies more effectively.

I’ve grouped the interests into five general categories but contrary to what you may think, finding patterns in the ways people think is not trivial. A content analysis will identify those important themes for each category and this data will be used to inform a survey to the same groups and other interest groups as well.

I have to find out if any unique social aggregates underlie a scale of the members attitudes and beliefs; so I’m working to model how people in subgroups respond to questions on a survey informed by doing that content analysis to identify themes within these categories. I suspect the sample size will be around 1,000 respondents to the surveys of the interviewed interest group members excluding the outside groups I identify. I’ll be able to compile this information and quantify the external influences and effects on the subgroups of special interest and establish a reference frame for the current outcomes on whether or not interest groups become involved and at what level.

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Masters of Science - Human Dimensions of Wave Energy Research - Presentation Transcript

Preferences and Strategies of Interest Groups and their Constituents in the Responsible Development of Wave Energy Technology in Oregon
Funding:
Committee:
- Flaxen Conway
- Sociology
- Brent Steel
- Political Science
- Mark Needham
- Forest Engineering
Resources & Mgmt
Todays Talk
Background
The 6 member research team
Rationale & Research Design
Why this matters and what’s at stake
Research Questions
Interest Group Identification
Key informants and content categories
Methods
Conclusion
Background
Human Dimensions of Wave Energy Research Program
Government  policy frameworks
Infrastructure and Politics  Policy players
Organized Interest Groups  Preferences and Strategies
Collect Baseline data from non-governmental interest groups
Coastal Communities
International Trends and Comparison of Wave Energy Technology
Wave Energy Compared to other Renewables
Coos Bay
Bandon
Why do we care about interest groups?
- To understand what currently wins widespread popular support within the groups concerning wave energy or is it not important to them
- To adjust our approach to accommodate what we are learning individually and leverage our efforts through associations to see the big picture and affect the outcome
Source: Fisheries Discussion and Policy, 2008
Big Picture Goals
Research Questions
How is wave energy perceived by organized interest groups including; industry, environmental, recreational, union, and energy developers / buyers?
What types of activities / strategies are being employed to promote interest group preferences?
How does using one strategy over another impact the membership within communities of interest based on their attitudes and beliefs about wave energy development now?
Rationale & Research Design
Where
When
Why
How
Wave Energy Involvement = Development Outcome Preferences
Interest Group Preferences
Methods
5 categories of special interests
15 semi-structured interviews
Content analysis
Surveys to members of interviewed groups and other outside groups
Methods cont…
Potential Construction of Social Model
Correlate attitudes and beliefs to current strategies of information dissemination within and across interest group categories
Strategies
Bots, 2007
Conclusion
Expected results should quantify and weigh:
Similarities and differences between the attitudes and beliefs of group representatives with their membership
The strategies used to promote organized interest group preferences linked to the formal stand they take on wave energy
Questions