Post-survey Likert constructions: an adaptive method for generalizing perceptions of environmental variability.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Social Science
• Methodology

Background:

• Environmental perception is shaped by individual knowledge, experiences, and expectations.
• Existing methods for measuring environmental perception are often place-specific, limiting cross-cultural comparisons.
• There is a need for flexible methods that capture diverse experiences and allow for analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a novel method for measuring environmental perception: Post-Survey Likert Constructions (PSLCs).
• To demonstrate the applicability of PSLCs in capturing perceived environmental variability in a culturally diverse, dynamic landscape.
• To provide a transparent account of a new methodological approach for environmental change research.

Main Methods:

• Developed Post-Survey Likert Constructions (PSLCs) using semi-structured interviews.
• Constructed a five-point scale system from multiple household responses post-interview.
• Applied the PSLC method in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, to residents of a dynamic flooding landscape.

Main Results:

• The PSLC method effectively captured natural variability in environmental perception within the study population.
• Differences in environmental perception were identified across households with varying settlement, cultural, and linguistic histories.
• The method proved adaptable to diverse environmental conditions and demographic groups.

Conclusions:

• PSLCs offer a flexible and effective approach to measuring environmental perception, incorporating respondents' own language and characterizations.
• The method facilitates the capture of nuanced environmental perceptions, essential for understanding human-environment interactions.
• PSLCs show significant potential for cross-cultural comparative studies on perceived environmental variability and environmental change.