How do natural elements such as environmental hazards and disasters effect individuals’ attitudes and behaviors about water management? Dr. Hannibal examines this question using quantitative data from ISTPP’s representative national public opinion survey on the water-energy-food nexus combined with data from three different sources that provide information about local drought, crop damage, earthquakes, and floods. By incorporating such hazard and disaster information with standard demographic and general environmental concern variables into predictive models, this study expands our insights into how people perceive and respond to water issues. Indeed, individuals who live in counties that experience consistent drought are more likely to identify water-related challenges as important, express higher levels of support for policies that manage water resources, and engage in behaviors that conserve water.
Hannibal, Bryce. 2017. “The Effect of Environmental Hazards on Attitudes and Behaviors about Water Management: A Multilevel Analysis.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Social Science Association, Austin, TX, April 12–15.
