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Can evolutionary design of social networks make it easier to be 'green'?
Abstract
The social Web is swiftly becoming a living laboratory for understanding human cooperation on massive scales. It has changed how we organize, socialize, and tackle problems that benefit from the efforts of a large crowd. A new, applied, behavioral ecology has begun to build on theoretical and empirical studies of cooperation, integrating research in the fields of evolutionary biology, social psychology, social networking, and citizen science. Here, we review the ways in which these disciplines inform the design of Internet environments to support collective pro-environmental behavior, tapping into proximate prosocial mechanisms and models of social evolution, as well as generating opportunities for 'field studies' to discover how we can support massive collective action and shift environmental social norms.
... Therefore, it has already been reported that certain factors could influence the buyers of green estates (green residential buildings, or GRBs). People usually decide on their future homes based on socio-environmental data [62] and factors related to resources [63][64][65][66] and capacity [67,68]. These elements consist of 3 different dimensions that interact with each other and include 64 basic influential factors, which have been addressed in previous studies [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]34,36,[45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]64,65,69,70] (Figure 1). ...
... In this study, we used the questionnaire study technique, which is a systematic method for data collection. Furthermore, it has previously been used to collect professional views on sustainable construction research [34,61,[65][66][67][68]71,72]. We used the technique across two rounds in our study. ...
... This study has certain limitations. The data regarding factors influencing the acceptance of the cost of green dental buildings were mainly based on factors mentioned in other studies [4,5,14,15,34,61,[65][66][67][68]71,72] and not on specific factors that exist in the building construction industry in Greece. Because of this limitation, the behavioral results should be further assessed to link specific green building elements with the environmental issues addressed in this study. ...
Ηuman sustainability in dental enterprises, as in every workplace, is connected to air and water quality, eco-friendly and naturally designed working spaces, and the culture of the 4Rs. The purpose of this study was to assess pro-environmental behavior, as well as knowledge of preferences for circular economies and green building construction, among a sample of dental students and dentists in Greece. We further assessed the factors influencing their choices. Students (N1 = 93) and dentists (N2 = 126) filled in e-questionnaires from April to December 2022. The data revealed that both students and dentists lack knowledge about the circular economy (N1 = 67.74%, N2 = 68.25%), EU regulations on amalgam disposal (N1 = 64.51%, N2 = 58.73%), and plastic recycling (N1 = 76.34%, N2 = 76.98%); meanwhile, they do recycle at home (N1 = 80.64%, N2 = 82.54%) and have participated in voluntary environmental initiatives (N1 = 58.06%, N2 = 66.66%). Gender influences the importance of factors related to green dental practices, with women students being more likely to agree that increased costs for network changes (p = 0.02) and poor wastewater management (p = 0.01) are significant. Students from urban areas are more likely to give positive answers to questions related to the lack of state financial support (p = 0.02), low levels of green design in buildings (p = 0.03), the negligible direct financial benefits of green dental offices (p = 0.04), the negligible reputational benefits of green dental offices (p = 0.02), and the lack of continuing education training seminars on green dentistry (p = 0.05). For dentists, no significant relationships were observed, except for a weak positive relationship for the increases in costs due to changes related to utility networks (p = 0.08), while increases in waste energy (p = 0.12) and the waste of dental materials (p = 0.19) seemed significant only for dentists in urban areas. Women dentists were more likely to answer positively regarding wasting energy (p = 0.024) and the use of unapproved disinfection products (p = 0.036). The findings contribute ideas and solutions for green dental practice buildings and sustainable behaviors through educational activities and regarding the social aspects of factors such as age, experience in dentistry, gender, and urbanism. This study also provides a basis for future multi-disciplinary research on dental quality assurance, the psychology of environmentalism, economics, and behavioral science in dentistry.
... The pervasiveness of social media is changing the way users interact and the ability to build social networks [18,57]. The successful design of internet technologies and social media platforms influences the way users interact and the capacity to create online groups of volunteers [12,18,57]. ...
... The pervasiveness of social media is changing the way users interact and the ability to build social networks [18,57]. The successful design of internet technologies and social media platforms influences the way users interact and the capacity to create online groups of volunteers [12,18,57]. These aspects offer, first, new ways of data collection and implementing research models set up on a constantly shared and updated information exchange between experts, stakeholders and volunteers [5]. ...
... This pervasiveness makes social media platforms as interesting, potentially fundamental, tools within scientific research activities to reach and engage an increasing number of participants able to collect an unprecedented amount of real-time data, expanding the geographic coverage of information [58][59][60]. Similarly, social media platforms can be useful tools to simplify organizational steps of citizen science projects, such as recruitment and task assignment [12,57], outcomes dissemination and call to action [61]. Social media can also be used as mediation tools between experts and volunteers to understand participants' behavior within the social and environmental context of action [57,59]. ...
This work intends to lay the foundations for a theoretical framework of citizen science combining social and organizational implications with the support of information technologies. The proposed theoretical framework moves towards a shared and common research process between experts and citizens to deal with environmental and social challenges. The role and capacity of online communities is explored and their engagement capacity by means of web-based digital platforms supporting crowdsourcing activities. In this contribution, authors highlight the most common practices, methods and issues of citizen science approaches adopted from multidisciplinary application fields to obtain insights for designing a new participative approach for organizational studies. To reach this goal, authors illustrate the results of a systematic meta-review analysis, consisting of an accurate selection and revision of journal review articles in order to highlight concepts, methods, research design approaches and tools adopted in citizen science approaches.
... Mail-in Delphi surveys can be labor and time intensive hampering the study's impact, while a "real-time Delphi" using an online format to gather multiple perspectives reduces processing burden and the study duration (Nowack et al., 2011;Hess and King, 2002). The interactive, social, World Wide Web and communication technologies have greatly expanded researchers' capabilities of reaching broad audiences, and enabled applications of participatory methods to address scientific, public policy, and societal questions on a massive scale (Crain et al., 2014;Dickinson et al., 2013;Prpić et al., 2015;Wiggins and Crowston, 2011). Examples of applications of crowdsourcing to problem solving, task completion, and idea generation include: Galaxy Zoo, MIT's Climate CoLab, Sustainia and Quirky (Lohr, 2015; MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, n.d.; Prpić et al., 2015;Sustainia, n.d.;Wiggins and Crowston, 2011). ...
... The Delphi online crowdsourcing platform used in this research was supported by interdisciplinary expertise in the natural, social, and computer sciences (Crain et al., 2014;Dickinson et al., 2013). As noted by similar initiatives, a web developer was an essential member of the research team, designing a custom site with a simple user interface and capacity for a large audience (Crain et al., 2014;Moore et al., 2009). ...
... Crowdsourcing used to harness human problem-solving capabilities in coupled human-natural systems has enormous potential (Crain et al., 2014;Dickinson et al., 2013;Michelucci and Dickinson, 2016;Wiggins and Crowston, 2011). Michelucci and Dickinson (2016) call attention to the power of crowds in "problem-solving ecosystems," with iterative ideation, revision, evaluation, and integration rounds. ...
There is a well-established need for increased stakeholder participation in the generation of adaptive management approaches and specific solutions to complex environmental problems. However, integrating participant feedback into current science, research, and decision-making processes is challenging. This paper presents a novel approach that marries a rigorous Delphi method, borrowed from policy and organizational sciences, with contemporary “crowdsourcing” to address the complex problems of water pollution exacerbated by climate change in the Lake Champlain Basin. In an online Delphi forum that occurred over a six-week period during the Spring of 2014, fifty-three participants proposed and commented on adaptive solutions to address water quality in the context of climate change. In a follow up Multi-Stakeholder workshop, thirty-eight stakeholders participated in refining and synthesizing the results from the forum. To inform modeling and policy dialogue, the resulting list of interventions was analyzed by time horizon, domain, type of adaptation action, and priority level. The interventions suggested by stakeholders within the crowdsourcing forum have contributed to the current policy dialogue in Vermont including legislation to address phosphorus loading to Lake Champlain. This stakeholder approach strengthens traditional modeling scenario development to include solutions and priorities that have been collectively refined and vetted.
... Many researchers have attempted to summarize game elements; [13], [14], [15] investigated the elements of game mechanics only. [8] has investigated elements of game mechanics and game dynamics, but [18] added the motives field to these elements to better explain them; a more detailed discussion is presented in Section 2 of this paper. ...
... [11], [12] mentioned that game mechanics, such as point and level and game design, have a scoring scheme to improve participation in a requirement elicitation process. Table 1 summarizes game mechanics elements based on [13], [14], [15]. ...
... Table 2 highlights the most important game-design elements but it can be observed that the elements of game design cannot be merged with the elements of game mechanics and dynamics. In addition, previous researchers have determined each element separately [8], [13], [14], [15], [20], [21], [22]. [19] developed a framework based on self-determination theory, in particular, the concepts of autonomy, competence and social relatedness. ...
Gamification technique is getting popular to be implemented in learning or training application. It is referred to the use of game elements or game thinking in a non-game context in order to increase engagement between students and learning application. Since there are many elements of games that are identified from previous works, this study focuses on game elements from Gamification technique that positively affect learning when applied to a learning application. Therefore, the objectives of this research are to identify game elements that can be gamified in a learning application; and to verify those elements by multiple users (gamers, students, and experts). Suitable game elements are identified through literature reviews. Two approaches are used to verify these elements; interview experts and administer a survey to gamers and students. The finding of this study suggests the use of a group of game elements with three aims, (1) increase the level of fun and entertainment; (2) motivate students to challenge each other; and (3) improve gaming and learning skills. In a further study, these elements will be implemented in a learning application and its effectiveness shall be tested.
... Thus, online technologies (i.e., Web 2.0 and social media) have the potential to reach wide swaths of citizenry, and may represent primary (and as of yet under-researched [16]) mediums for encouraging action to protect the environment. In fact, the utility of Web 2.0 and social media is being tested in social science research seeking to build and organize communities (e.g., [31]) and for purposes of climate change communication (e.g., [14,16,20,32]) and environmental education (e.g., [11,23,33]). However, research has yet to establish the "best" technologies and how to maximize their effectiveness. ...
... For instance, communities and people's psychological attachment to their communities are contextual influences on proenvironmental actions. Research suggests that people are likely to engage in ERBs to the extent that they have concerns about particular communities or believe that communities they belong to are affected by environmental problems [31,76,83,84]. Community connections also influence broader forms of social action and civic engagement [62,[85][86][87]. ...
... Social Networking Sites (SNSs; e.g., Facebook, Twitter) also serve informational functions; some examples of this informational use include "viral" media or online social contagion [17,31] and disseminating information about petitions and social causes [114]. According to some researchers, Twitter is a microblogging technology that is used for information and opinion sharing across a social network [115,116]. ...
Research from a variety of disciplines suggests that online technologies (i.e., Web 2.0 and social media) have considerable potential for spurring proenvironmental action; however, relatively little work examines how to effectively capitalize on these communication and organization tools. This review paper describes the Technologies for Proenvironmental Action Model (TPAM), a conceptual framework that explicates how different functions of Web 2.0 and social media (i.e., informational, relational, and experiential) can generate and/or facilitate personal, social, and contextual pathways to environmentally responsible behaviors. As derived from the TPAM, the likelihood of achieving practical goals of increasing proenvironmental behaviors is enhanced when technological functions are matched to the different pathways to proenvironmental action. For example, the relational function of technologies, as exemplified by Social Networking Sites (SNSs), should be particularly effective in communicating social norms supportive of environmentally responsible behaviors. The TPAM is intended as a guide to develop novel approaches, research questions, and methodologies in leveraging Web 2.0 and social media technologies to promote proenvironmental action. Results will contribute to basic theory development and work in applied settings (e.g., local environmental organizations) in order to effectively communicate and organize with different segments of the population to increase sustainable behaviors.
... Integrating these two research endeavors with citizen-science methodologies can open up new areas of inquiry and reveal the complex interrelationships among specific aspects of human and natural systems, allowing them to be studied within one integrated data collection system. A natural extension of such a perspective is the potential to extend citizen science to purposefully manage socioecological systems, while simultaneously monitoring the outcomes of such efforts (20,21). ...
... It is likely that the Web may play a large role in facilitating these efforts, as it already does in many modern citizen-science projects (22)(23)(24). Information, communication, and social technologies, including social networking and gamification, can create collaborative (and competitive) environments on the Web to elicit the kinds of public engagement needed to manage collective use of resources (21). Building projects that are able to move between ecological and social data collection requires not only additional, more robust integration of theory from the behavioral and learning sciences, but also an increased investment in the complex cyberinfrastructures needed to collect and manage diverse data sets. ...
... Couplings between on-the-ground communities and natural contexts can be created through citizen science, often leading to pathways to resilience for both social and ecological systems (21,101,(130)(131)(132). ...
Citizen science has proliferated in the last decade, becoming a critical form of public engagement in science and an increasingly important research tool for the study of large-scale patterns in nature. Although citizen science is already interdisciplinary, it has untapped potential to build capacity for transformative research on coupled human and natural systems. New tools have begun to collect paired ecological and social data from the same individual; this allows for detailed examination of feedbacks at the level of individuals and potentially provides much-needed data for agent-based modeling. With the ongoing professionalization of citizen science, the field can benefit from integrating a coupled systems perspective, including a broadening of the social science perspectives considered. This can lead to new schema and platforms to increase support for large-scale research on coupled natural and human systems.Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Environment and Resources Volume 39 is October 17, 2014. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/catalog/pubdates.aspx for revised estimates.
... For example, in their study examining changing perceptions on biodiversity in individuals that participated in a butterfly watch, Cosquer et al. (2012, p. 7) show ''that the awareness of biodiversity (here, willingness to participate in the Garden Butterflies Watch) spreads in general social networks (i.e., the media), which are not necessarily connected to nature.'' Dickinson et al. (2013, p. 563) argue that, in many contexts, we are ''influenced not just by immediate friends but by friends of friends of friends,'' which suggests that human behavior can be ''contagious'' within social networks. Price and Lee (2013) demonstrate that, in the context of citizen science, social networks and interpersonal communication are powerful instruments in changing attitudes toward science because people tend to change behaviors and opinions based on interactions and feedback from others. ...
... Price and Lee (2013) demonstrate that, in the context of citizen science, social networks and interpersonal communication are powerful instruments in changing attitudes toward science because people tend to change behaviors and opinions based on interactions and feedback from others. As a result, Dickinson et al. (2013, p. 564) argue that citizen science projects can enhance group efficacy and provide a mechanism to channel environmental information within social networks. In the next sections, we outline this three-step process – seeking opportunity, expertise, and advocacy – within CWS-WCS projects in India. ...
... The resolution of all of these problems requires individuals to cooperate for the common good at more or less expense to their own short-term benefit. Therefore, the challenges and solutions to such cooperation problems have been an area of research scholarship in sustainability science (e.g., Dickinson et al., 2013;Meinzen-Dick et al., 2018;Messner et al., 2013;Waring et al., 2015Waring et al., , 2017. Hardin (1968) proposed that given our purportedly selfish human nature, the only solutions to this tragedy would be the privatisation of resources or top-down governmental control. ...
Since knowledge about evolution—and especially human evolution—is insufficient, we aimed to design three student centered online activities. These activities deal with human evolution and are intended to expose high school biology students and pre-service science teachers to issues concerning human evolution in order to enhance their knowledge of evolution and human evolution whilst also potentially enhancing their acceptance of evolution. The activities deal with lactose tolerance, celiac disease and starch consumption affecting diabetes. Additionally, we describe the principles that guided the design of these three activities: issues connecting to students’ lives; noncontentious topics regarding human evolution; human evolution examples that occurred in the not-too-distant past; unambiguous genetic frame stories including simple genetic mutations that affect known traits; and examples that expose students to basic bioinformatics tools for facing authentic scientific issues dealing with genetic evidence of evolution. Furthermore, we present the results of pre-service science teachers’ experiences with one of the activities, which demonstrate that a significant proportion of these teachers used more evolution key concepts after experiencing the activity. Notably, a significant proportion of these teachers showed an increase in evolution acceptance. In-service teachers who experienced one of the activities recommended the introduction of genetic evidence of human evolution via the activity and did not predict opposition among their students. Thus, we recommend the use of these activities among high school biology students since dealing with a relevant topic that includes clear and straightforward evidence of evolution may lead to better knowledge, a greater acceptance of evolution and human evolution, and the improved negotiation of evolution related socioscientific issues (SSIs).
... SNA exhibits significant potential for application within the realm of investigating the impact of various barriers. SNA is a valuable tool for comprehending the collaborative dynamics among organizations operating in diverse domains [42]. Huang et al. employed SNA as a methodological approach to examine the relationships among 28 significant factors pertaining to green building. ...
The absence of a reliable, dynamic evaluation system has impeded early-stage industrial research progress, particularly in the digital transformation of the construction industry. Moreover, existing studies rarely explore barriers’ direct impact on the subject of study and the interplay between barriers. This paper aims to introduce an innovative framework for generating dynamic collective opinions. Dynamic collective opinion generation framework comprises three key components: Collective Opinion Generation (COG), Prediction with Expert Advice (PEA), and Social Network Analysis (SNA). Its goal is to provide dependable decision support when subjective evaluation data from experts is available. Initially, a bi-objective optimization model generates the initial barrier weight vector. The PEA incorporates a loss function to measure the deviation between aggregated PDF and actual observed data, updating the weight vector over time. Next, an influence network covering all barriers is established. Node significance is evaluated through metrics like degree centrality, closeness centrality, and eigenvector centrality. The gravity model based on three metrics is used to determine interrelationships among barriers, resulting in a weight vector capturing these interplays. The two weight vectors are weighted using Nash equilibrium, yielding the ultimate weight vector for barriers. The effectiveness of the proposed dynamic collective opinion generation framework is showcased through a case study on China Construction Third Bureau. Results indicate that talent structure notably influences construction companies' digital transformation. Additionally, market structure and strategic positioning significantly impact digital transformation in this industry.
... The resolution of all of these problems requires individuals to cooperate for the common good at more or less expense to their own short-term benefit. Therefore, the challenges and solutions to such cooperation problems have been an area of research scholarship in sustainability science (e.g., Dickinson et al., 2013;Meinzen-Dick et al., 2018;Messner et al., 2013;Waring et al., 2015Waring et al., , 2017. Hardin (1968) proposed that given our purportedly selfish human nature, the only solutions to this tragedy would be the privatisation of resources or top-down governmental control. ...
... The resolution of all of these problems requires individuals to cooperate for the common good at more or less expense to their own short-term benefit. Therefore, the challenges and solutions to such cooperation problems have been an area of research scholarship in sustainability science (e.g., Dickinson et al., 2013;Meinzen-Dick et al., 2018;Messner et al., 2013;Waring et al., 2015Waring et al., , 2017. Hardin (1968) proposed that given our purportedly selfish human nature, the only solutions to this tragedy would be the privatisation of resources or top-down governmental control. ...
Addressing the complex and controversial problems we face
today requires education to empower citizens with competencies
in sustainability that allow them to contribute to more just and
sustainable societies. Many sustainability problems are strongly
linked to evolutionary processes. When complex problems can be
informed by science, these are known as socioscientific issues
(SSI). Educational approaches that explore SSI have been shown
to contribute to the development of functional scientific literacy
and character development. Together, this suggests that evolution
education through the SSI approach may contribute to the
development of key competencies in sustainability. To test this
hypothesis and understand how evolution education has been
explored through SSI approaches, we performed a systematic
literature review to identify the key competencies in sustainability
developed in papers addressing evolution through SSI. Our
results indicate that a few studies have addressed evolution
education through SSI and support the potential of this approach
since all key competencies in sustainability were found in these
studies; however, some of these competencies (e.g., strategic
and anticipatory competencies) were not frequently observed.
Our results also support the interest in this approach to evolution
education since all evolution education dimensions were found.
However, the analysed studies show little diversity in terms of the
explored SSI, with the majority being related to biotechnology.
The implications of these findings and important highlights for
educational practices and research are discussed.
... The resolution of all of these problems requires individuals to cooperate for the common good at more or less expense to their own short-term benefit. Therefore, the challenges and solutions to such cooperation problems have been an area of research scholarship in sustainability science (e.g., Dickinson et al., 2013;Meinzen-Dick et al., 2018;Messner et al., 2013;Waring et al., 2015Waring et al., , 2017. Hardin (1968) proposed that given our purportedly selfish human nature, the only solutions to this tragedy would be the privatisation of resources or top-down governmental control. ...
EuroScitizen and EvoKE offer you the ebook "Learning evolution through socioscientific issues". Produced by professionals from 15 different countries, this book includes 6 theoretical chapters on the teaching and learning of biological evolution and on the socioscientific issues pedagogical approach, and 6 chapters with practical activities on a variety of topics and grade levels, which you can use to inspire your own research.
... Based on attitudes, affiliations or opinions, individuals within social networks tend to form strong connections with similar others and as a result, ideas and actions spread broadly through the network (Watts, 2004). Social networks online not only increase the number of social connections but also make the communicative outcomes of connections such as interactions and reputations built in the community (Dickinson et al., 2013). For example, an individual's reputation within a social network online is often measured by the number of social connections that individual has and an individual who has a high number of social following may occupy a position as an influencer. ...
Purpose
This study aims to examine the difference between personalized and non-personalized recommendations in influencing YouTube users’ video choices. In addition, whether men and women have a significant difference in using recommendations was compared and the predictors of recommendation video use frequency were explored.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of 524 Saudi Arabia college students was conducted using computer-assisted self-administered interviews to collect their video recommendation sources and how likely they follow the recommendation from different sources.
Findings
Video links posted on social media used by the digital natives were found as the most effective form of recommendation shows that social approval is important in influencing trials. Recommendations can succeed in both personalized and non-personalized ways. Personalized recommendations as in YouTube recommended videos are almost the same as friends and family’s non-personalized posting of video links on social media in convincing people to watch the videos. Contrary to expectations, Saudi men college students are more likely to use recommendations than women students.
Research limitations/implications
The use of a non-probability sample is a major limitation and self-reported frequency may result in over- or under-estimation of video use.
Practical implications
Marketers will realize that they may not need the personalized recommendation from the large site. They can use social media recommendations by the consumers’ friends and family. E-mail is the worst platform for a recommendation.
Social implications
Recommendation is a credible source and can overcome the avoidance of advertising. Its influence on consumers will be increasing in years to come with the algorithmic recommendation and social media use.
Originality/value
This is the first study to compare the influence of different online recommendation sources and compare personalized and non-personalized recommendations. As recommendation is growing more and more important with algorithm development online, the study results have high reference values to marketers in Islamic countries and beyond.
... In other relevant studies (e.g., [20]; [21]; Fernandes et al., 2012), it was mentioned that game mechanics (e.g., point and level and game design), contain a scoring schema for enhancing the participation within the process of requirement elicitation. Game mechanics are based on elements listed by [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] Taking into account the budding stage of gamification, [34] specifically stressed that gamification and games differ from one another. Metaphorically speaking, if games are the noun, gamification is the verb. ...
... Biodiversity information is currently collected not only by experts, but also by citizen scientists around the world (Dickinson et al. 2012(Dickinson et al. , 2013Hochachka et al. 2012). Citizen participation is becoming increasingly important for biodiversity conservation, as it fosters more sustainable and abundant data collection, easier action plan implementation, and more effective education (e.g., Cooper et al. 2007;Silvertown 2009;Brosi and Biber 2012;Aravind 2013;Tulloch et al. 2013;Wals et al. 2014;Kobori et al. 2016). ...
Large biodiversity datasets are currently being collected not only by experts and amateur researchers, but also by the general public. In this study, records of non-native and Japanese Red List fishes observed by citizens were extracted from all 85,453 posts on the bulletin board system of WEB sakana-zukan, a web-based encyclopedia of Japanese fishes that went online in 2002. We found 681 (0.8%) and 549 (0.6%) posts containing attached images of non-native and Red Data Book fishes, resulting in 418 and 362 Japanese distributional records respectively. The number of posts and the composition of non-native species reflected the Japanese inland fisheries policy to increase target species. These data included records of exotic species (eleven taxa) whose introduction to Japan had been unknown previously, as well as records of nine exotic/domestic species whose introductions into specific Japanese regions had been unknown. Additionally, we identified the range extension of one Red Data Book species. These photographs were stored in a public museum’s photographic collection for ongoing scientific use. Three heavy users of the website combined contributed 26.7% of the new distribution records (8/30 lots), while 15 light users contributed 50.0% (15/30 lots), suggesting that overall there is a greater contribution by light users. This indicates that a web community with abundant users can accumulate new biodiversity observations better than one with fewer users but many posts per user. Our results show that this web-community was able to contribute to monitoring non-native and Red List fishes in conjunction with expert participation, and therefore that web-communities targeting living organisms can contribute to biodiversity conservation.
... The increase of trust through the observation of costly signaling has been reported by numerous researchers, and in many different fields (Bereczkie et al., 2010;Hall et al., 2015;Jordan et al., 2016;Klapwijk & van Lange, 2009;Sosis, 2005). Another branch of research is mainly concerned with the signaling effect on status (Nelissen & Meijers, 2011) and reputation, for example when choosing green products to display environmental consciousness (Delgado et al., 2015;Dickinson et al., 2013;Griskevicius et al., 2010). In the fundamental motives framework (Griskevicius & Kenrick, 2013), costly signaling is one key theory to explain why consumption serves as "costly show-off behavior" (Griskevicius & Durante, 2015, p. 128) to honestly signal consumer status. ...
The paper proposes that corporate social responsibility is a mean for organizations to advertise their underlying qualities. Based upon costly signalling theory (Zahavi, 1975), it is proposed that the more costly the CSR-efforts of an organization are, the less likely it is that they are fake.
... A way forward might be to mix data from different sources [63], and nurse cross-disciplinary approaches. Such approaches might help to ensure that e-tools accommodate different situations and users, and also helping to discover possibilities of e-tools to support sustainable transition [64,65]. We argue for the importance of data analysis to shed light on the applicability of the data and for future research to provide frameworks for e-governance, which alongside ensuring democratic standards and scientific requirements, will also ensure place-specific ecological considerations, thereby ensuring the best possible basis for e-tools to succeed as efficient tools in participatory UGI governance. ...
In the unfolding reality of advanced internet-based communication tools, the possibilities and implications for citizens' e-engagement is revealing. The paper introduces different examples of e-tools used in participatory urban green infrastructure governance. E-tools here includes various location-based service apps, and volunteered geographic information stemming from social media activities, as well as public participation geographic information system approaches. Through an analytical framework describing five categories, we discuss the different scopes and possibilities, as well as general barriers and problems to participatory e-tools. We suggest some basic premises for the application of e-tools in urban green infrastructure governance and discussed future development of this field. E-tools can allow interaction between citizens, public authorities, and other stakeholders; however, research on the implications of such location-based governance is needed to make full use of the rapid ongoing development of such information and communication technologies, and to avoid possible pitfalls. We suggest that future research into this area of environmental-social-technical solutions should test, discuss, and develop frameworks and standards, for the use of different e-tools in combination with offline approaches.
... Clearly, the method could be applied by changing the nature of the game and its prizes (Gatautis & Vitkauskaite, 2014) in order of investigating the real attractiveness of such incentives. Therefore, further analyses, more deeply exploring the role of social networks (Dickinson, Crain, Reeve, & Schuldt, 2013) and gaming approaches (Bartolo & Mariani, 2014), are needed. On the other hand, different award systems could be based on scores represented by economic discounts of the costs of the public services offered by the Public Administrations for citizens that change their mobility habits towards more sustainable ones. ...
Usually, mobility policies assessed by local institutions tend to intervene on the side of the urban transport networks, by designing new and expensive infrastructures, whereas only a few attention is paid to the possible positive effects induced by proper mobility behaviors of people. On purpose, Smartphone technologies and platforms are rapidly becoming effective tools for involving citizens in environmental conscious mobility habits. By means of an empirical application to a group of university students, that daily commute for reaching their departments, the effectiveness of a mobile app game in pursuing commuters to modify their mobility behaviors is here checked. The game rewards with tangible prizes the most environmentally sustainable mobility habits, connecting commuters with sponsors and companies operating in the urban context. The field application of the app in the city of Palermo challenges the involved commuters against two benchmarks of mobility behaviors characterized by the use of higher sweet mobility means. The first scenario (apart its applicability as alone) can be seen as a first less challenging step towards the second one. The interesting outcomes of this experimental application encourage paying further attention to such behavioral tools for achieving the smartness of cities.
... The increase of trust through the observation of costly signaling has been reported by numerous researchers, and in many different fields (Bereczkie et al., 2010;Hall et al., 2015;Jordan et al., 2016;Klapwijk & van Lange, 2009;Sosis, 2005). Another branch of research is mainly concerned with the signaling effect on status (Nelissen & Meijers, 2011) and reputation, for example when choosing green products to display environmental consciousness (Delgado et al., 2015;Dickinson et al., 2013;Griskevicius et al., 2010). In the fundamental motives framework (Griskevicius & Kenrick, 2013), costly signaling is one key theory to explain why consumption serves as "costly show-off behavior" (Griskevicius & Durante, 2015, p. 128) to honestly signal consumer status. ...
The theory of costly signaling suggests that cheating can be controlled by the handicap principle, suggesting that "the reliability of communication (or advertisement) is increased in relation to the investment in the advertisement.” (Zahavi, 1977, p. 603) This theory, which to date has been widely researched in animal communication and human social interactions promises a new view on public relations as an organizational function. Thus, in the course of the paper, public relations is described as costly signaling of organizations.
... The two most important components of SNA are the actors and relationships. Therefore, SNA can help us to understand the cooperative relationship between organizations in various fields [68]. There are few studies on the development and application of GRBs on SNA. ...
Green residential buildings (GRBs) are one of the effective practices of energy saving and emission reduction in the construction industry. However, many real estate developers in China are less willing to develop GRBs, because of the factors affecting green residential building development (GRBD). In order to promote the sustainable development of GRBs in China, this paper, based on the perspective of real estate developers, identifies the influential and critical factors affecting GRBD, using the method of social network analysis (SNA). Firstly, 14 factors affecting GRBD are determined from 64 preliminary factors of three main elements, and the framework is established. Secondly, the relationships between the 14 factors are analyzed by SNA. Finally, four critical factors for GRBD, which are on the local economy development level, development strategy and innovation orientation, developer’s acknowledgement and positioning for GRBD, and experience and ability for GRBD, are identified by the social network centrality test. The findings illustrate the key issues that affect the development of GRBs, and provide references for policy making by the government and strategy formulation by real estate developers.
... Compared to traditional (offline) interactive contexts, we know little about how normative influence processes affect coordination within online social networks. Social media offers unique opportunities for coordinating conservation and sustainability efforts at scale (Dickinson, Crain, Reeve, & Schuldt, 2013). In this special issue, Song, Schuldt, McLeod, Crain, and Dickinson (2018) report on a field experiment conducted with members of a real-world conservation network that examined how the violation of a single strongly held norm can influence judgments of group members' commitment to sustainability. ...
Climate change is often conceived as a technical challenge, requiring smart policies and science-driven solutions. Yet, as revealed by each new round of international negotiations, and by growing (rather than receding) partisan divides on climate change in the United States, climate change is also profoundly social: How people understand and engage with the issue is powerfully influenced by the responses of others, including members of ingroups and outgroups. This special issue brings together research and theory that shed light on new and understudied group and intergroup dimensions of climate change. The featured articles showcase the breadth of social psychological processes (e.g., social identity and categorization processes, intergroup perceptions, normative influence, justice concerns, and group-based ideologies) relevant to the study of climate change while highlighting how the problem’s shared, global relevance poses unique questions and opportunities for the field. We explore the contributions of these articles to the social psychological study of climate change and highlight new challenges and pathways forward.
... The rise of the Internet has brought unprecedented opportunities for examining the influence of social norms at scale, including across geographically dispersed individuals and groups with shared interests. These opportunities are especially rich within applications and websites that feature user-generated content, such as major social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter (e.g., Segerberg & Bennett, 2011), and platforms focused specifically on conservation and sustainability (Dickinson, Crain, Reeve, & Schuldt, 2013). Environmental behaviors and behavioral norms represented on these networks have an influence potential that may far exceed that of offline behaviors because of their large user bases and ease of information transmission (e.g., Kinzig et al., 2013;Spartz, Su, Griffin, Brossard, & Dunwoody, 2017). ...
Much research has demonstrated the power of social norms to affect proenvironmental behavior and conservation-related attitudes and beliefs in traditional “offline” social contexts. With the emergence of social media and citizen science platforms that allow for socially coordinated conservation efforts at scale comes a need to better understand the influence of social norms in online contexts. The present experiment explored effects of norm violations on impression formation and intergroup judgments within the context of Habitat Network, a socially networked mapping application where users create and share virtual representations (maps) of their properties. Results revealed that when participants viewed a map depicting the violation of a strongly held group norm—namely, the presence of an outdoor (vs. indoor) pet cat—they judged the map owner as significantly less likely to engage in a variety of proenvironmental behaviors. Importantly, this effect emerged despite evidence that the owner was already engaging in various sustainable practices. Moreover, the effect was mediated by the perceived quality of wildlife habitat represented by the map and moderated by participants’ group membership status (as a cat owner) in a manner consistent with theories of impression formation and intergroup judgments. We discuss implications for social cognition and intergroup relations in proenvironmental online contexts.
... A new social network requires considerable effort to manage the community. But it may also strengthen their ties with the project (23). ...
Agroecology -- the science of sustainable agriculture -- offers a new and positive perspective for the creation of sustainable food systems. We argue that, from the outset, it is important to involve citizens in this development to create the necessary, bottom-up support for change in agriculture and to re-establish the ties between food production and consumption. Human Computation and Citizen Science offer opportunities to include citizens in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of agro-ecosystems. In the P2P Food Lab project, we also seek new ways to engage them more creatively by setting up a shared online/offline platform in which they can learn, practice, innovate, and share observations on agroecological techniques. This paper gives a description and the underlying motivations of our ongoing work.
... Bonney et al. (2009) argue that such online forums increase participant's visibility at ever-larger scales. Dickinson, Crain, Reeve & Schuldt, (2013) have discussed the benefits of online social networking. One of these benefits, they suggest is that participants can appreciate their role in the collection of large data sets. ...
Citizen Science is increasing in popularity and used by many academics, community groups and Non-
Governmental Organizations in scientific data collection. Despite this, little is known about the motivations
and experiences of those who contribute to citizen science projects, nor about the impacts of involvement
in citizen science upon the individual. Moreover, few have considered the pedagogic process that
individuals undergo as they participate in these activities. Citizen science practitioners and program
developers stand to benefit from increased understanding of these experiences in terms of their capacity
to enhance environmental education. Such increased understanding of the implications of citizen science
may also promote the development of sustainability education. This chapter synthesizes insights
from existing literature, policy documents and practical projects to explore the pedagogic potential of
the convergence of citizen science and environmental education. The chapter concludes that progressive
evaluation approaches are needed to complement what is an emergent field.
... Často se soudí, že důvodem pro odcizování, ztrátu zakotvenosti v místě, je současná posedlost a závislost na informačních a komunikačních technologiích (Zaradic, 2008). Tento názor není dostatečně doložen; již nyní máme naopak důkazy o tom, že moderní technologie mohou lidi s místem znovu propojovat (Dickinson, et al., 2013). Existuje mnoho příkladů, kdy obyvatelé monitorovali svoje blízké prostředí (např. ...
O čem se píše v časopise Science? Překlad textu: Wals, Arjen E. J., Michael Brody, Justin Dillon, Robert B. Stevenson (2014). Convergence Between Science and Environmental Education. Science, 344(6184), 583–584. DOI: 10.1126/science.1250515
Publikováno se souhlasem časopisu Science.
... stepgreen.org/), energy use (OPOWER; , Rippl; http:// www.oceanconservancy.org/do-your-part/rippl.html) (see also [12,13]). ...
In traditional public good experiments participants receive an endowment from the experimenter that can be invested in a public good or kept in a private account. In this paper we present an experimental environment where participants can invest time during five days to contribute to a public good. Participants can make contributions to a linear public good by logging into a web application and performing virtual actions. We compared four treatments, with different group sizes and information of (relative) performance of other groups. We find that information feedback about performance of other groups has a small positive effect if we control for various attributes of the groups. Moreover, we find a significant effect of the contributions of others in the group in the previous day on the number of points earned in the current day. Our results confirm that people participate more when participants in their group participate more, and are influenced by information about the relative performance of other groups.
... [36,37] mentioned that game mechanics, such as point and level and game design, have a scoring schema to improve user participation in a requirement elicitation process. Also, researchers like [38,39,40] have summarized game mechanics elements in their studies. This research plan intends to employ the types of Gamification elements from previous studies based on Khaleel et al. [41,42]. ...
We are becoming increasingly aware of the effectiveness of electronics application when it comes to teaching. One example of modern electronic application is Electronic Learning (E-Learning). The development of IT has led to the advent of a new approach or a new study called Gamification. Gamification is defined as the use of game elements (game thinking) in a non-game context to increase engagement between humans and computers as well as to increase problem-solving. This study obtained a positive analysis after conducting a survey with students and from interviewing experts. This study also found an issue in regard to learning content development and presentation. Moreover, we found that the representation of knowledge in a learning application would positively influence students. The current study aims to build an architecture of dynamic gamification elements and to evaluate this architecture using the Architecture-Level Modifiability Analysis method. Finally, the results of the expert interview taking into account the criteria of architecture are also discussed.
... Communities also use the platform to work together toward shared goals, such as increasing the percentage of native flora in a neighborhood or enhancing pollinator habitat. YardMap thus generates useful conservation data that can be tied to the Lab's bird monitoring efforts while also serving as a powerful platform for leveraging online social dynamics to influence real-world behaviors that are aligned with users' goals (Dickinson et al. 2013). ...
Humans are the most effective integrators and producers of information, directly and through the use of information-processing inventions. As these inventions become increasingly sophisticated, the substantive role of humans in processing information will tend toward capabilities that derive from our most complex cognitive processes, e.g., abstraction, creativity, and applied world knowledge. Through the advancement of human computation – methods that leverage the respective strengths of humans and machines in distributed information-processing systems – formerly discrete processes will combine synergistically into increasingly integrated and complex information-processing systems. These new, collective systems will exhibit an unprecedented degree of predictive accuracy in modeling physical and technosocial processes and may ultimately coalesce into a single unified predictive organism, with the capacity to address societies most wicked problems and achieve planetary homeostasis.
... Additional projects cover a variety of areas, from ecology to comparative genomics (27,46,48). Recently, developments in smartphone use platforms (36) and social networking patterns (16) have multiplied the ways popular technologies can be integrated into citizen-science research. Mobile devices and social media may be useful tools for encouraging participation. ...
The biological sciences encompass topics considered controversial by the American public, such as evolution and climate change. We believe that the development of climate change education in the biology classroom is better informed by an understanding of the history of the teaching of evolution. A common goal for science educators should be to engender a greater respect for and appreciation of science among students while teaching specific content knowledge. Citizen science has emerged as a viable yet underdeveloped method for engaging students of all ages in key scientific issues that impact society through authentic data-driven scientific research. Where successful, citizen science may open avenues of communication and engagement with the scientific process that would otherwise be more difficult to achieve. Citizen science projects demonstrate versatility in education and the ability to test hypotheses by collecting large amounts of often publishable data. We find a great possibility for science education research in the incorporation of citizen science projects in curriculum, especially with respect to "hot topics" of socioscientific debate based on our review of the findings of other authors. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education.
... A detailed analysis of the available data will also be useful for better understanding what drives people to make their habits more sustainable (Dickinson et al., 2013). Thanks to the game's features and to the variety of relationships that the user can develop with the network of partners and sponsors (Bartolo & Mariani, 2014), it is already possible to deduce what drives each individual user, or category, when modifying or not their personal mobility habits (Gatautis & Vitkauskaite, 2014). ...
This chapter presents the social innovation project "TrafficO2", a support system for decision-making in the field of transportation that tries to push commuters towards more sustainable mobility by providing concrete incentives for each responsible choice. After focusing on Palermo, Italy, the context of this case study, this chapter provides a detailed description of the TrafficO2 model. Specifically, the chapter deals with the analysis of a selected sample of users among Palermo University students who commute daily to their respective University departments on campus. Starting from the modal split of the actual situation (Status Quo scenario), another behavior scenario (Do your right mix) is designed and promoted to encourage users to create a better mix of existing mobility means and reduce the use of private vehicles powered by combustibles. The first test that was performed confirmed the reliability of the initiative.
... A growing body of research considers the possibilities of linking people to their local environment through the use of mobile phones and other internet based devises. (Arts et al., 2016;Barry, 2013;Boone, 2015;Coller et al., 2013;Czepkiewicz, 2014;Dickinson et al., 2013;Damiano, 2015;Dunkel, 2015;Foth et al., 2011;Goodchild, 2007;Kahila, 2015;Karatzas, 2011;Linders, 2011;Maffey et al., 2015;Nam, 2012;Rowe, 2000;Schneckenberg, 2009;Shelton et al., 2015;Sui et al., 2011;Wallin et al., 2010, and others). Possibilities of using ICT (information and communication technologies) are promising in many ways, e.g. to enhance transparency and democracy. ...
This report describes our investigations of 18 examples of innovative governance arrangements in urban green space management across Europe. In this analyses, we focused on three interrelated research questions: i) What do innovative governance arrangements look like in terms of aims, actors, structure, contexts, dynamics, and which of their elements can be characterised as innovative? ii) Which are the most important perceived effects of these arrangements in their environmental and political contexts? iii) What lessons can be drawn from
the supporting and hindering factors for these arrangements, and the power dynamics that take place?
... Today, with nearly 16,000 maps, YardMap is becoming the largest network of on-the-ground, conservation practitioners in the world. Its research goal is to test socially explicit hypotheses describing the kinds of interventions that increase the range of conservation efforts that participants engage in Dickinson et al. 2013), while also exploring the complex relationship between social interaction, interactions with the Yard-Map app, and learning. In terms of ecology, YardMap (much like Japan's Garden Wild Life Watch mentioned earlier) can help address questions regarding which combinations practices have positive impacts on wildlife, and under what conditions, densities, and landscape regimes, backyards can be managed to become habitats for wildlife. ...
Citizen science has a long history in the ecological sciences and has made substantial contributions to science, education, and society. Developments in information technology during the last few decades have created new opportunities for citizen science to engage ever larger audiences of volunteers to help address some of ecology’s most pressing issues, such as global environmental change. Using online tools, volunteers can find projects that match their interests and learn the skills and protocols required to develop questions, collect data, submit data, and help process and analyze data online. Citizen science has become increasingly important for its ability to engage large numbers of volunteers to generate observations at scales or resolutions unattainable by individual researchers. As a coupled natural and human approach, citizen science can also help researchers access local knowledge and implement conservation projects that might be impossible otherwise. In Japan, however, the value of citizen science to science and society is still underappreciated. Here we present case studies of citizen science in Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and describe how citizen science is used to tackle key questions in ecology and conservation, including spatial and macro-ecology, management of threatened and invasive species, and monitoring of biodiversity. We also discuss the importance of data quality, volunteer recruitment, program evaluation, and the integration of science and human systems in citizen science projects. Finally, we outline some of the primary challenges facing citizen science and its future.
... Front yards, which are governed more by variables related to status, could become increasingly wildlifefriendly over time with shifting descriptive norms (observable behavior patterns that indicate what is typical or normal, Cialdini et al. 1990) in a neighborhood. Norms have been strongly correlated to pro-environmental behaviors such as recycling (Schultz 1999) and energy conservation (Nolan et al. 2008), and their potential to shift yard-related behaviors has been suggested by several researchers (e.g., Nassauer et al. 2009;Dickinson et al. 2013b). The conservation potential of back yards seems especially promising, since people tend to incorporate more vegetation types in their back yards, especially plants that support birds and other wildlife. ...
Context
The conservation value of residential landscapes is becoming increasingly apparent in our urbanizing world. The ecological characteristics of residential areas are largely determined by the decisions of many individual “managers.” In these complex socio-ecological systems, it is important to understand the factors that motivate human decision-making.
Objectives
Our first objective was to quantify wildlife resources and management activities in residential landscapes and compare vegetation in front and back yards. Our second objective was to test three hypotheses linked with variation in yards: socioeconomic characteristics, neighborhood design factors, and perceptions of neighborhood birds.
Methods
We conducted surveys of over 900 residents in 25 Chicago-area neighborhoods to examine the wildlife resources contained in front and back yards and the social factors associated with variation in yards. We used a multi-scalar approach to examine among-yard and among-neighborhood variation in residential landscapes.
Results
Results indicate that back yards contain more wildlife resources than front yards, including greater vegetation complexity, more plants with fruit/berries, and more plants intended to attract birds. Furthermore, different hypotheses explain variation in front and back yards. Perceptions of birds were most important in explaining variation in back yard vegetation and wildlife-friendly resources per parcel, while neighbors’ yards and socioeconomic characteristics best explained front yard vegetation.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates the importance of back yards as an unexplored and underestimated resource for biodiversity. In addition, the results provide insight into the complex factors linked with yard decisions, notably that residents’ connections with neighborhood birds appear to translate to on-the-ground actions.
... Bonney et al. (2009) argue that such online forums increase participant's visibility at ever-larger scales. Dickinson, Crain, Reeve & Schuldt, (2013) have discussed the benefits of online social networking. One of these benefits, they suggest is that participants can appreciate their role in the collection of large data sets. ...
... Communities also use the platform to work together toward shared goals, such as increasing the percentage of native flora in a neighborhood or enhancing pollinator habitat. YardMap thus generates useful conservation data that can be tied to the Lab's bird monitoring efforts, while also serving as a powerful platform for leveraging online social dynamics to influence real world behaviors that are aligned with users' goals (Dickinson, Crain, Reeve, & Schuldt, 2013). ...
Humans are the most effective integrators and producers of information, directly and through the use of information-processing inventions. As these inventions become increasingly sophisticated, the substantive role of humans in processing information will tend toward capabilities that derive from our most complex cognitive processes, e.g., abstraction, creativity, and applied world knowledge. Through the advancement of human computation-methods that leverage the respective strengths of humans and machines in distributed information-processing systems-formerly discrete processes will combine synergistically into increasingly integrated and complex information processing systems. These new, collective systems will exhibit an unprecedented degree of predictive accuracy in modeling physical and techno-social processes, and may ultimately coalesce into a single unified predictive organism, with the capacity to address societies most wicked problems and achieve planetary homeostasis.
... The Internet has drastically changed the way biologists communicate (e.g., Dickinson et al. 2012Dickinson et al. , 2013Proulx et al. 2014), and information regarding fish biology is no exception. For example, the wide use of online ichthyological databases, such as FishBase (Froese and Pauly 2014) and Catalog of Fishes (Eschmeyer 2014), has contributed substantially to our understanding of fish taxonomy and ecology. ...
Miyazaki, Y.; Murase, A.; Shiina, M.; Masui, R., and Senou, H., 2015. Integrating and utilizing citizen biodiversity data on the Web for science: An example of a rare triggerfish hybrid image provided by a sport fisherman.
We report a photograph of the rare triggerfish hybrid, Rhinecanthus aculeatus × R. rectangulus (order Tetraodontiformes; family Balistidae), from Miyako-jima Island, Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan, that was provided by a sport fisherman via WEB sakana-zukan (an online photographic database of fish in Japan). The image was registered in the Fish Image Database of the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History to make it available for scientific scrutiny. Here we emphasize the importance of communication between citizens, such as fishermen, scuba divers, and others, and experts via the Internet, to make possible the processing of biodiversity information provided by citizens into museum collections. This communication contributes Global Biodiversity Information Facility data for various biological studies, such as those on taxonomy, morphology, fauna/flora, community ecology, and biogeography.
... The Internet has drastically changed the way biologists communicate (e.g., Dickinson et al. 2012Dickinson et al. , 2013Proulx et al. 2014), and information regarding fish biology is no exception. For example, the wide use of online ichthyological databases, such as FishBase (Froese and Pauly 2014) and Catalog of Fishes (Eschmeyer 2014), has contributed substantially to our understanding of fish taxonomy and ecology. ...
The Internet has changed the way biologists communicate; this includes the collection of information on fish biology. This technological change may allow the possibility for biological monitoring by general citizens via the Internet. The Japanese Internet atlas of fishes, WEB sakana-zukan, has been in operation since 2002. It provides an opportunity to communicate and accumulate information on fish biology by amateur users, who consist mainly of sports fishing fans. This website has functioned not only as an entertainment and educational tool for users with an environmental and ichthyological interest. To date, more than 35,000 photographs of fishes have been registered on the website by more than 1,000 unique users, and more than 37,500 photographs of fishes have been posted in its bulletin board system (linking approximately 28,000 photographs to the website) by more than 2,000 unique users. As these photographs almost always include time and locality data, it is possible to provide distribution data by publishing the information as scientific papers or registering them as collections at the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History (the Image Database of Fishes (KPM-NR) contributing to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility). If the communication method is developed and improved, various scientists will be able to collect much more biodiversity data from general citizens via the Internet.
... The focus on identity is timely: The complexity and uncertainty brought on by globalization and the rapid pace of technological and social change result in substantial cultural shifts, including a search for meaning and affi liation in locally defi ned identities ( 5). The reasons for the recently established disconnect between people and place that results from a preoccupation with and dependency on ICT ( 17) are underresearched, but there is some evidence that such technologies can actually reconnect people and places ( 18). Numerous examples exist of citizens monitoring changes in the environment (e.g., bird migration patterns and quality of water, soil, and air) using geographic information systems, cell phones, and specially designed monitoring applications ( 11). ...
Citizen science and concerns about sustainability can catalyze much-needed synergy between environmental education and science education.
This study introduced computerized collaboration scripts with an intergroup competition mechanism to foster students’ within-group collaboration in a multi-touch tabletop classroom, investigating whether the scripting effects could be further improved by integrating intergroup competition. As such, this study utilized an experimental design to investigate the effects of intergroup competition on student teamwork performance, collaborative skills and learning achievement. A real-time intergroup competition mechanism was designed and integrated into a scripted multi-touch platform that supported collaborative designs. Forty-nine fifth-grade students from two classes at an elementary school in Taiwan were assigned to distinct groups, with and without intergroup competition. The participating students were required to accomplish a tessellation-related design project in small groups on a multi-touch platform. The findings showed that the students learning with the scripts under intergroup competition on multi-touch tabletop displays demonstrated better teamwork performance, collaborative skills and learning achievement than their counterparts who did not experience intergroup competition. These findings provide empirical evidence as to the effectiveness of integrating collaboration scripts with intergroup competition to computer-supported collaborative learning in multi-touch technology enhanced classrooms, delivering a better understanding of how learning with computerized collaboration scripts can be improved and how group awareness is related to this learning setting.
The goal of this chapter is to draw attention to the interrelation of multiple mediatized relationships, including face-to-face interaction, in local civic engagement around biodiversity and the environment. The authors propose that civic engagement and participation transcend the type of media used, and that artificial distinctions between online and offline participation are unproductive. Their argument is supported by three examples of participatory projects in which social media-based and face-to-face interactions are closely interrelated. This contribution highlights local uses of social media and the web. It shows how engagement plays out across multiple channels and how resources can be found in a variety of media formats. In particular, online media significantly alter the visibility of both local actions and of the resulting data.
Production and consumption of plastic, especially single-use ones, are seen today as one of the main environmental problems, since it is used for a very short time, takes hundreds of years to decompose, and the measures taken to reduce it have shown to be counterproductive, such as laws prohibiting its use. In this scenario, we investigate user behavior, analyzing young college students’ perception facing plastic cups offer, specifically, drivers and barriers to non-adoption behaviors, through the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Consumption Emotions Set scale (CES). A questionnaire, divided by blocks, was applied to southern-Brazilian university students (N = 502). For the data analysis we performed a general frequency description, followed by central tendency measurement (descriptive statistics), which evinces that students show favorable attitude and behavioral intention to disposable plastic cups non-use. Among the four emotions with higher frequencies, envy was a novelty verified in this study, along with guilt, frustration and worry. We propose practical and theorical implications based on our findings, followed by our study’s limitations.
The goal of this chapter is to draw attention to the interrelation of multiple mediatized relationships, including face-to-face interaction, in local civic engagement around biodiversity and the environment. The authors propose that civic engagement and participation transcend the type of media used, and that artificial distinctions between online and offline participation are unproductive. Their argument is supported by three examples of participatory projects in which social media-based and face-to-face interactions are closely interrelated. This contribution highlights local uses of social media and the web. It shows how engagement plays out across multiple channels and how resources can be found in a variety of media formats. In particular, online media significantly alter the visibility of both local actions and of the resulting data.
The adoption of citizen science methodologies by environmental organisations and ecologists entrusts the task of collecting ecological data to non‐experts operating at a local scale. This presents individuals and communities with opportunities to monitor ecological change and contribute to local environmental management. Little is known about why volunteers choose to participate in burgeoning contemporary citizen science research initiatives. The aim of this paper is thus to explore volunteer motivation for involvement in two environmental citizen science initiatives, based in the United Kingdom. It contributes to understandings of the socio‐geographical influences that act on participation in environmental citizen science. It is proposed within this paper that affective connections with local geographies provide a conceptual framework for understanding citizen science motivations. The paper discusses the main themes emerging from site‐based, in‐depth interviews with 22 citizen science participants in various UK locations. The study revealed that early affective bonds formed with ecological spaces endured throughout life courses, while citizen science participation offered a way of remaining connected to local environments. The paper reflects on the endurance of affective environmental bonds and their manifestation within the expressed motivations for citizen science participation, which emerged as fulfilling a compulsion to observe ecological surroundings, a desire to participate in environmental research and a commitment to protecting local environments. The paper proposes that citizen science participation offers a framework to connect to and protect local and global affinity spaces, while assisting in monitoring global environmental change.
If cooperative dispositions are associated with unique phenotypic features (’green beards’), cooperative individuals can be identified. Therefore, cooperative individuals can avoid exploitation by defectors by cooperating exclusively with other cooperative individuals; consequently, cooperators flourish and defectors die out. Experimental evidence suggests that subjects, who are given the opportunity to make promises in face-to-face interactions, are indeed able to predict the partner’s behavior better than chance in a subsequent Prisoners’ Dilemma. This evidence has been interpreted as evidence in favor of green beard approaches to the evolution of human cooperation. Here we argue, however, that the evidence does not support this interpretation. We show, in particular, that the existence of conditional cooperation renders subjects' choices in the Prisoners’ Dilemma predictable. However, although subjects predict behavior better than chance, selfish individuals earn higher incomes than conditional cooperators. Thus, although subjects may predict other players’ choices better than chance evolution favors the selfish subjects, i.e., the experimental evidence does not support the green beard approach towards the evolution of cooperation.
Rapid urbanisation brings unwelcome negative impacts, and places excessive pressure on infrastructure development and maintenance. In particular, transport networks become congested with negative impacts on energy logistics. The liquid fuel situation of South Africa and Gauteng is briefly examined. The paper considers the impact of constrained oil supply, and supply infrastructure, on transport. The author further suggests that the authorities in Gauteng should critically examine an ultra light rail option in order to reduce reliance on imported oil, while helping reduce road congestion. A more energy efficient transport network for the province, able to meet the transport needs of passengers and business, will help decrease environmentally damaging emissions.
How we communicate the dangers of climate change may influence attitudes, intentions, and behaviors. Here we test two pairs of positive and negative framing statements with North American citizen scientists interested in gardening and birdwatching. Mentioning dangers for humans did not increase participants interest in taking personal action on climate change, but mentioning dangers for birds was highly effective. Highlighting the positive collective impacts of small behavioral changes also increased participants interest in taking personal action. These results suggest that while some dire messages are ineffective, those evoking concern for target species of significance to the learners may be as successful as positive messages.
Models indicate that opportunities for reputation formation can play an important role in sustaining cooperation and prosocial behavior. Results from experimental economic games support this conclusion, as manipulating reputational opportunities affects prosocial behavior. Noting that some prosocial behavior remains even in anonymous noniterated games, some investigators argue that humans possess a propensity for prosociality independent of reputation management. However, decision-making processes often employ both explicit propositional knowledge and intuitive or affective judgments elicited by tacit cues. Manipulating game parameters alters explicit information employed in overt strategizing but leaves intact cues that may affect intuitive judgments relevant to reputation formation. To explore how subtle cues of observability impact prosocial behavior, we conducted five dictator games, manipulating both auditory cues of the presence of others (via the use of sound-deadening earmuffs) and visual cues (via the presentation of stylized eyespots). Although earmuffs appeared to reduce generosity, this effect was not significant. However, as predicted, eyespots substantially increased generosity, despite no differences in actual anonymity; when using a computer displaying eyespots, almost twice as many participants gave money to their partners compared with the controls. Investigations of prosocial behavior must consider both overt information about game parameters and subtle cues influencing intuitive judgments.
In three experiments, respondents’ behavior conformed to the dictates of a relevant norm (the norm against littering) only under conditions of normative focus. This relationship held true across three types of procedures for producing normative focus (physiological arousal, modeling, and self-directed attention), across two types of settings (public and private), and across two types of norms (social and personal). Moreover, factors that would be expected to affect normative action were influential only when the norm was focal. These factors included the degree to which the action violated the relevant norm (Study 2) and the degree to which an individual subscribed to that norm (Study 3). Implications are discussed for developing campaigns to encourage prosocial behavior.
This research investigates how secondhand impressions of other people differ from those based on firsthand information. It was hypothesized that secondhand impressions are often more extreme because secondhand accounts of another person's actions frequently fail to convey adequately the role of mitigating circumstances and situational constraints in producing that person's behavior. Experiments 1 and 2 tested this hypothesis by exposing “first generation” subjects to information about a target person, having them rate the target on several trait and attribution scales, and having them describe the target person's actions to a group of “second generation” subjects. As predicted, second generation subjects made more extreme ratings of the target than their first generation counterparts. Content analyses of the accounts transmitted by first generation subjects indicated that they did indeed underemphasize various situational qualifications of the target persons' behavior. Experiment 3 extended these findings by demonstrating that people's impressions of someone they have often heard about from a friend (but never met) are more extreme than their friends' more informed impressions.
This study examined the effects of time restriction on social interaction in computer-mediated communication through a meta-analysis of applicable research. Time was defined as whether subjects were restricted or unrestricted in their opportunity to exchange messages. Studies were included that assessed either of two outcome variables: socially oriented (as opposed to task-oriented) communication, and negative / uninhibited communication. Hypotheses were derived from Walther's social information processing perspective. Meta-analytic tests supported the hypotheses on social communication. Although no effects were found on negative / uninhibited communication, a reexamination of original studies suggests caution regarding previous findings.
Numerous theoretical frameworks have been developed to explain the gap between the possession of environmental knowledge and environmental awareness, and displaying pro-environmental behavior. Although many hundreds of studies have been undertaken, no definitive explanation has yet been found. Our article describes a few of the most influential and commonly used analytical frameworks: early US linear progression models; altruism, empathy and prosocial behavior models; and finally, sociological models. All of the models we discuss (and many of the ones we do not such as economic models, psychological models that look at behavior in general, social marketing models and that have become known as deliberative and inclusionary processes or procedures (DIPS)) have some validity in certain circumstances. This indicates that the question of what shapes pro-environmental behavior is such a complex one that it cannot be visualized through one single framework or diagram. We then analyze the factors that have been found to have some influence, positive or negative, on pro-environmental behavior such as demographic factors, external factors (e.g. institutional, economic, social and cultural) and internal factors (e.g. motivation, pro-environmental knowledge, awareness, values, attitudes, emotion, locus of control, responsibilities and priorities). Although we point out that developing a model that tries to incorporate all factors might neither be feasible nor useful, we feel that it can help illuminate this complex field. Accordingly, we propose our own model based on the work of Fliegenschnee and Schelakovsky (1998) who were influenced by Fietkau and Kessel (1981).
Past research has generated mixed support among social scientists for the utility of social norms in accounting for human behavior. We argue that norms do have a substantial impact on human action; however, the impact can only be properly recognized when researchers (a) separate 2 types of norms that at times act antagonistically in a situation—injunctive norms (what most others approve or disapprove) and descriptive norms (what most others do)—and (b) focus Ss' attention principally on the type of norm being studied. In 5 natural settings, focusing Ss on either the descriptive norms or the injunctive norms regarding littering caused the Ss' littering decisions to change only in accord with the dictates of the then more salient type of norm. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Purpose
The objective of this paper is to investigate if marketing and branding techniques can help establish green brands and introduce greener patterns of consumption into contemporary lifestyles in the current context where environmentally friendly products are increasingly available.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reviews consumer behaviour and advertising to identify how consumers are persuaded to opt for greener products. It reports the results of a consumer product survey using a questionnaire based on the Dunlap and van Liere HEP‐NEP environmental survey and the Roper Starch Worldwide environmental behaviour survey. The respondents were 52 mothers who shop at supermarkets.
Findings
The results show a correlation between consumer confidence in the performance of green products and their pro‐environmental beliefs in general. The findings suggest that most consumers cannot easily identify greener products (apart from cleaning products) although they would favour products manufactured by greener companies, and they do not find the current product marketing particularly relevant or engaging.
Practical implications
The paper suggests that the market for greener products could be exploited more within consumer groups that have pro‐environmental values.
Originality/value
This paper identifies that consumers are not exposed enough to green product marketing communication and suggests the greater use of marketing and brands to promote and sell products that are environmentally friendly and function effectively.
Emoticons are graphic representations of facial expressions that many e-mail users embed in their messages. These symbols are widely known and commonly recognized among computer-mediated communication (CMC) users, and they are described by most observers as substituting for the nonverbal cues that are missing from CMC in comparison to face-to-face communication. Their empirical impacts, however, are undocumented. An experiment sought to determine the effects of three common emoticons on message interpretations. Hypotheses drawn from literature on nonverbal communication reflect several plausible relationships between emoticons and verbal messages. The results indicate that emoticons’ contributions were outweighed by verbal content, but a negativity effect appeared such that any negative message aspect—verbal or graphic—shifts message interpretation in the direction of the negative element.
This article criticizes the predominant use of fear appeals in social marketing. Laboratory studies, which have been the basis for most of the research on fear appeals and which generally suggest that high fear works, have limitations that include forced exposure, short-term measurement, and an overdependence on student samples. Although, unfortunately, field research evaluations of fear appeals are few, they usually reveal that fear has both weaker effects and unintended deleterious effects in real-world social marketing campaigns. Ethical concerns about fear appeals include maladaptive responses such as chronic heightened anxiety among those most at risk and, paradoxically, complacency among those not directly targeted, and increased social inequity between those who respond to fear campaigns, who tend to be better off, and those who do not, who tend to be the less educated and poorer members of society. Alternatives to fear appeals are the use of positive reinforcement appeals aimed at the good behavior, the use of humor, and, for younger audiences, the use of postmodern irony. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A global analysis shows that considerable forces contribute nowadays to the perpetuation of the so-called “developed” model
of consumption, and its extension to growing parts of the world, despite reiterated calls for “modification of production
and consumption patterns”. Environmental product regulation can be situated in this general perspective. This paper returns
to the framing of policies devoted to ecologically sustainable consumption, taking the example of the Integrated product policy
at the European level. How are the objectives of such policies defined? What instruments are privileged? Comparing theoretical
approaches with policy design, we focus on the role devoted to consumers in these contexts. Bringing in literature evidence,
survey results and findings from an original study, we argue that appropriate knowledge of the diversity of consumers’ attitudes
and about the limitations of their possible actions is not properly taken into account in product policies, notably when information
and voluntary tools are dominant. From this point of view, environmental product regulations are well justified, but they
should, as all policy instruments implicating consumers, take careful notice of their situation.
Environmental quality strongly depends on human behaviour patterns. We review the contribution and the potential of environmental psychology for understanding and promoting pro-environmental behaviour. A general framework is proposed, comprising: (1) identification of the behaviour to be changed, (2) examination of the main factors underlying this behaviour, (3) design and application of interventions to change behaviour to reduce environmental impact, and (4) evaluation of the effects of interventions. We discuss how environmental psychologists empirically studied these four topics, identify apparent shortcomings so far, and indicate major issues for future research.
Ostracism is such a widely used and powerful tactic that the authors tested whether people would be affected by it even under remote and artificial circumstances. In Study 1, 1,486 participants from 62 countries accessed the authors' on-line experiment on the Internet. They were asked to use mental visualization while playing a virtual tossing game with two others (who were actually computer generated and controlled). Despite the minimal nature of their experience, the more participants were ostracized, the more they reported feeling bad, having less control, and losing a sense of belonging. In Study 2, ostracized participants were more likely to conform on a subsequent task. The results are discussed in terms of supporting K. D. Williams's (1997) need threat theory of ostracism.
We compare a partners condition, where the same small group of subjects plays a repeated public good game, to a strangers condition, where subjects play this game in changing group formations. From the first period onward, subjects in the partners condition contribute significantly more to the public good than subjects in the strangers condition. Strangers' contributions show continual decay, while partners' contributions fluctuate on a high level prior to decreasing in the final periods. We interpret subjects' behaviour in terms of conditional cooperation which is characterized by both future-oriented and reactive behaviour.
To provide practitioners with useful information about how to promote proenvironmental behavior (PEB), a meta-analysis was performed on 87 published reports containing 253 experimental treatments that measured an observed, not self-reported, behavioral outcome. Most studies combined multiple treatments, and this confounding precluded definitive conclusions about which individual treatments are most effective. Treatments that included cognitive dissonance, goal setting, social modeling, and prompts provided the overall largest effect sizes (Hedge’s g > 0.60). Further analyses indicated that different treatments have been more effective for certain behaviors. Although average effect sizes are based on small numbers of studies, effective combinations of treatments and behaviors are making it easy to recycle, setting goals for conserving gasoline, and modeling home energy conservation. The results also reveal several gaps in the literature that should guide further research, including both treatments and PEB that have not been tested.
The benefits of a good reputation can help explain why some individuals are willing to be altruistic in situations where they will not receive direct benefits. Recent experiments on indirect reciprocity have shown that when people stand to benefit from having a good reputation, they are more altruistic towards groups and charities. However, it is unknown whether indirect reciprocity is the only thing that can cause such an effect. Individuals may be altruistic because it will make them more trustworthy. In this study, I show that participants in a cooperative group game contribute more to their group when they expect to play a dyadic trust game afterwards, and that participants do tend to trust altruistic individuals more than nonaltruistic individuals. I also included a condition where participants had to choose only one person to trust (instead of being able to trust all players) in the dyadic trust game that followed the cooperative group game, and contributions towards the group were maintained best in this condition. This provides some evidence that competition for scarce reputational benefits can help maintain cooperative behaviour because of competitive altruism.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to draw on social dilemma theory and reference group theory to explain the attitude‐behavior inconsistency in environmental consumerism. This research seeks to better understand why, despite concern towards the environment (attitude), consumers fail to purchase environmentally friendly or green products (behavior).
Design/methodology/approach
A survey instrument was developed that used scales to measure eight independent and one dependent variable. In addition, socio‐demographic data were also collected about the study participants. To discriminate between green and non‐green buyers, classification with discriminant analysis was used.
Findings
The framework presented contributes to the environmental consumerism literature by framing the attitude‐behavior gap as a social dilemma and draws on reference group theory to identify individual factors to help understand the gap and suggest ways in which to bridge it. Results from the study reveal that several characteristics of the individual – trust, in‐group identity, expectation of others' cooperation and perceived efficacy – were significant in differentiating between “non‐green” and “green” buyers.
Practical implications
The results of the study offer several managerial implications. First, marketers should reinforce the role trust plays in solidifying collective action. Second, because of the strong influence of reference groups in green buying, marketing communications managers should use spokespeople who are relatable. Third, the study showed that expectation of others' cooperation significantly identifies green buyers. Fourth, to address the perception of personal efficacy, it is important that green marketers emphasize the difference that individual action makes for the collective good.
Originality/value
The research draws on both social dilemma and reference group theories to investigate the determinants of and the mechanisms to explain the rationale behind the attitude‐behavior gap as it pertains to a specific environmental issue – energy conservation.
Fear appeals have the potential to be potent persuasive strategies. However, they often backfire. Previous research has focused primarily on the factors leading to fear appeal successes and neglected the factors associated with fear appeal failures. Utilizing a recently developed fear appeal theory, the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), a study was undertaken to explore the cognitive and emotional mechanisms underlying the success and failure of fear appeals in the context of AIDS prevention. The study results offered general support for the EPPM and indicated that (a) the emotion fear is associated with fear control responses and is not directly related to danger control responses, (b) perceptions (or cognitions) about the recommended response are associated with danger control responses and unrelated to fear control responses, and (c) when efficacy beliefs are strong, perceived threat mediates the relationship between the emotion fear and behavior. Overall, it appears that cognitions lead to fear appeal success (i.e., attitude, intention, or behavior changes) via the danger control processes, while the emotion fear leads to fear appeal failure (i.e., defensive avoidance or reactance) via the fear control processes.
Similarity breeds connection. This principle - the homophily principle - structures network ties of every type, including marriage, friendship, work, advice, support, information transfer, exchange, comembership, and other types of relationship. The result is that people's personal networks are homogeneous with regard to many sociodemographic, behavioral, and intrapersonal characteristics. Homophily limits people's social worlds in a way that has powerful implications for the information they receive, the attitudes they form, and the interactions they experience. Homophily in race and ethnicity creates the strongest divides in our personal environments, with age, religion, education, occupation, and gender following in roughly that order. Geographic propinquity, families, organizations, and isomorphic positions in social systems all create contexts in which homophilous relations form. Ties between nonsimilar individuals also dissolve at a higher rate, which sets the stage for the formation of niches (localized positions) within social space. We argue for more research on: (a) the basic ecological processes that link organizations, associations, cultural communities, social movements, and many other social forms; (b) the impact of multiplex ties on the patterns of homophily; and (c) the dynamics of network change over time through which networks and other social entities co-evolve.
The presence of subtle cues of being watched has been reported to make people behave altruistically, even when they are anonymous. Individual selection theory predicts that generosity in the presence of eyes is based on the providers' expectation of a future reward. On the other hand, as we are living in quite a large society in which altruistic punishment is effective, the eyes could elicit fear of punishment. However, no previous study has investigated whether people are concerned with their reputation when subtle social cues are present. We conducted the dictator game in the presence of, or without, a painting of stylized eyes. The participants were then asked to complete a post-experimental questionnaire designed to investigate what they were thinking when they decided the amount of money to offer the recipient and how they perceived the experimental situation. Participants in the eye condition allocated more money to the recipient than did those in the control condition. This effect was not mediated by fear of punishment but by the expectation of a reward. Moreover, the results suggested that the participants expected their actions would enhance their reputation in the eyes of a third party.
"The experiment was designed to investigate the effects of persuasive communications which attempt to motivate people to conform with a set of recommendations by stimulating fear reactions… . The over-all effectiveness of a persuasive communication will tend to be reduced by the use of a strong fear appeal, if it evokes a high degree of emotional tension without adequately satisfying the need for reassurance." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
The goals of this issue on psychology and the promotion of a sustainable future are (1) to introduce the breadth of environmental problems that currently face humanity, (2) to explore alternative courses of action that might facilitate the attainment of a sustainable future, (3) to expose the reader to interdisciplinary perspectives regarding sustainability, and (4) to introduce the results of empirical research whose application can assist in the promotion of sustainability. This first article provides a brief introduction to the environmental problems facing the world, an overview of social science research related to sustainability, and a summary of the articles in this issue.
This paper develops a theory of conspicuous conservation, a phenomenon related to conspicuous consumption in which individuals seek status through displays of austerity amid growing concern about environmental protection. We identify a statistically and economically significant conspicuous conservation effect in vehicle purchase decisions and estimate a mean willingness to pay for the green signal provided by the distinctively designed Toyota Prius in the range of 4,200 depending upon the owner's location. Results are related to the growing literature on green markets and suggest policy should target less conspicuous conservation investments that will be under-provided relative to those that confer a status benefit.
This study uses a large sample of homes in the San Diego area and Sacramento, California area to provide some of the first capitalization estimates of the sales value of homes with solar panels relative to comparable homes without solar panels. Although the residential solar home market continues to grow, there is little direct evidence on the market capitalization effect. Using both hedonics and a repeat sales index approach we find that solar panels are capitalized at roughly a 3.5% premium. This premium is larger in communities with a greater share of college graduates and of registered Prius hybrid vehicles.Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
Developing more environmentally sustainable consumption and production systems depends upon consumers' willingness to engage in “greener” consumption behaviors. Research efforts have sought to identify, analyze, and understand the “green consumer.” Initial marketing and economics research, focusing on purchasing activities, has been complemented by research from fields such as industrial ecology and sociology, providing a more holistic picture of green consumption as a process. Much of the research has focused on areas with the greatest environmental impacts, namely peoples' homes and household management, their food choices and behaviors, and their transport behaviors for work, leisure, and travel. The emerging picture of green consumption is of a process that is strongly influenced by consumer values, norms, and habits, yet is highly complex, diverse, and context dependent. There are opportunities for future research that provides greater interdisciplinarity and challenges our assumptions and expectations about consumption and the nature of the consumer society.
The social capital approach takes these factors seriously as causes of behavior and collective social outcomes. The social capital approach does this in ways that are consistent with continued and lively development of neoclassical economics and rational choice approaches. In sum, the social capital approach improves the knowledge of macro political and economic phenomena by expanding the factors to be incorporated in such knowledge and by constructing richer causality among those factors, and by achieving these without dismissing the insights from neoclassical economics and rational choice theories.Abundant, and often valid, criticisms of the concept have also levied against it (Arrow 1999; Solow 1999; Fine 2001; Durlauf 2002 - to name a few). Solow notes that much of the social capital research is plagued by 'vague ideas' and 'casual empiricism.' Academic research can be afflicted by fads and fashions just as much as any other field. We believe, however, that the concept of social capital can be defined carefully. It is a useful concept that should take its place alongside physical and human capital as core concepts of great usefulness to the social sciences.
Why do members of the public disagree - sharply and persistently - about facts on which expert scientists largely agree? We designed a study to test a distinctive explanation: the cultural cognition of scientific consensus. The "cultural cognition of risk" refers to the tendency of individuals to form risk perceptions that are congenial to their values. The study presents both correlational and experimental evidence confirming that cultural cognition shapes individuals' beliefs about the existence of scientific consensus, and the process by which they form such beliefs, relating to climate change, the disposal of nuclear wastes, and the effect of permitting concealed possession of handguns. The implications of this dynamic for science communication and public policy-making are discussed.
In biophysical terms, humanity has never been moving faster nor further from sustainability than it is now. Our increasing population size and per capita impacts are severely testing the ability of Earth to provide for peoples' most basic needs. Awareness of these circumstances has grown tremendously, as has the sophistication of efforts to address them. But the complexity of the challenge remains daunting. We explore prospects for transformative change in three critical areas of sustainable development: achieving a sustainable population size and securing vital natural capital, both in part through reducing inequity, and strengthening the societal leadership of academia.
Eudaimonic theories of well-being assert the importance of achieving one’s full potential through engaging in inherently meaningful endeavors. In two daily diary studies, we assessed whether reports of engagement in behaviors representative of eudaimonic theories were associated with well-being. We also examined whether eudaimonic behaviors were more strongly related to well-being than behaviors directed toward obtaining pleasure or material goods. In both studies, eudaimonic behaviors had consistently stronger relations to well-being than hedonic behaviors. Data also provided support for a temporal sequence in which eudaimonic behaviors were related to greater well-being the next day. Overall, our results suggest that “doing good” may be an important avenue by which people create meaningful and satisfying lives.
A central problem in the biological and social sciences concerns the conditions required for emergence and maintenance of cooperation among unrelated individuals. Most models and experiments have been pursued in a game–theoretic context and involve reward or punishment. Here, we show that such payoffs are unnecessary, and that stable social groups can sometimes be maintained provided simply that agents are more likely to imitate others who are like them (homophily). In contrast to other studies, to sustain multiple types we need not impose the restriction that agents also choose to make their opinions different from those in other groups.
As more and more social science experiments are being run on computers, the question of whether these new laboratory instruments affect outcomes is increasingly important. We examine whether the mode of communication in experiments has any effect on the choices made by individuals. We find that the effects of `e-mail' vs. face-to-face communication vary with the nature of the decisions and may depend upon the complexity and content of what needs to be communicated.
Guala raises important questions about the misinterpretation of experimental studies that have found that subjects engage in costly punishment. Instead of positing that punishment is the solution for social dilemmas, earlier research posited that when individuals facing a social dilemma agreed on their own rules and used graduated sanctions, they were more likely to have robust solutions over time.
Social networks show striking structural regularities, and both theory and evidence suggest that networks may have facilitated the development of large-scale cooperation in humans. Here, we characterize the social networks of the Hadza, a population of hunter-gatherers in Tanzania. We show that Hadza networks have important properties also seen in modernized social networks, including a skewed degree distribution, degree assortativity, transitivity, reciprocity, geographic decay and homophily. We demonstrate that Hadza camps exhibit high between-group and low within-group variation in public goods game donations. Network ties are also more likely between people who give the same amount, and the similarity in cooperative behaviour extends up to two degrees of separation. Social distance appears to be as important as genetic relatedness and physical proximity in explaining assortativity in cooperation. Our results suggest that certain elements of social network structure may have been present at an early point in human history. Also, early humans may have formed ties with both kin and non-kin, based in part on their tendency to cooperate. Social networks may thus have contributed to the emergence of cooperation.