Gene L. Theodori

Urbanization and Community Attachment in Rural Areas

The effects of urbanization on community attachment were examined using data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in four rural communities with differing levels of urban presence and pressure in Pennsylvania. Building upon Wirths (1938) theory of urbanism, it was hypothesized that residents of the more rural communities would have higher levels of community attachment than the residents of the most urban community, net of other factors. The data did not support the hypothesis. With respect to two of the three measures of community attachment examined, residents of two more rural communities exhibited statistically significant lower levels of community attachment than those of the most urban site. Possible implications of the findings are advanced.The effects of urbanization on community attachment were examined using data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in four rural communities with differing levels of urban presence and pressure in Pennsylvania. Building upon Wirths (1938) theory of urbanism, it was hypothesized that residents of the more rural communities would have higher levels of community attachment than the residents of the most urban community, net of other factors. The data did not support the hypothesis. With respect to two of the three measures of community attachment examined, residents of two more rural communities exhibited statistically significant lower levels of community attachment than those of the most urban site. Possible implications of the findings are advanced.

Community and Community Development in Resource-Based Areas: Operational Definitions Rooted in an Interactional Perspective

ABSTRACT An understanding of community development in resource-based areas must begin with an awareness of what a community is and how it develops. In this article I provide a conceptual foundation for operational definitions of community and community development. The proposed working definitions are grounded in sociological theory and empirical research. This endeavor is timely since so much of our social, economic, and political rhetoric makes reference to these two concepts yet fails to provide adequate interpretations for the terms.

The Drop-Off/Pick-Up Method For Household Survey Research

The hand delivery of self-administered questionnaires has been presented as an alternative for reducing non-coverage error associated with the mail method at lower cost than face-to-face interviews. This research note draws from experiences using the hand delivery technique (combined with hand retrieval) in rural and small community studies to address practical issues associated with improving coverage, and its relationships with sampling, response, and administrative considerations. It is suggested that while this technique provides needed flexibility in relation to household enumeration options, logistical issues limit its applicability where settlement patterns are dispersed and resources to supplement sampling frames are inadequate. Time and cost outlays are required to maximize its potential. When place-related and administrative conditions can be met, the technique offers promise for reducing non-coverage error and possible sample bias without saerificing response rates. In addition, it provides opportunities to gain experiential insights not possible with other survey methods.

Position on Environmental Issues and Engagement in Proenvironmental Behaviors

Using data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in four communities in Pennsylvania, we tested the following two hypotheses: (1) that differences in sociodemographic characteristics exist among individuals with variant positions on environmental issues; and (2) that individuals with different positions on environmental issues exhibit dissimilar levels of proenvironmental behaviors. Both hypotheses received substantial support. The results indicate that young individuals, the more highly educated, people with higher incomes, and those with liberal political ideologies are more likely than their opposites to maintain proactive positions on environmental issues. The findings also reveal that while both proactive and sympathetic persons engage more frequently in proenvironmental behaviors than do their neutral counterparts, sympathetic individuals partake in these same behaviors less often than do those who expressed proactive positions on environmental issues.

Community Attachment, Satisfaction, and Action

The effects of community attachment and satisfaction on community-level action were examined using data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in two rural communities in Texas. Substantial support was found for the hypothesis that attachment to the community is associated positively with community action. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses reveal that higher levels of community attachment result in increased levels of community action. Virtually no support, though, was found for the hypothesis that community satisfaction is negatively associated with community action. The multivariate findings also suggest that certain sociodemographic variables (i.e., education, marital status, race, and length of residence) are important predictors of community action. Possible implications of the findings are advanced, as are suggestions for future research.

Public Perception of Desalinated Water from Oil and Gas Field Operations: Data from Texas

Data collected in two counties in north central Texas were used to empirically explore issues associated with public perception of desalinated water from oil and gas field operations. The data reveal that small percentages of respondents are extremely familiar with the process of desalination and extremely confident that desalinated water could meet human drinking water quality and purity standards. The data also indicate that respondents are more favorably disposed toward the use of desalinated water for purposes where the probability of human or animal ingestion is lessened. Lastly, the data show that respondents who are more familiar with desalination technology are more likely than those who are less familiar to believe that desalinated oil and gas field water could safely be used for selected purposes. Possible implications of these findings are advanced, as are suggestions for future research.

Constraints to the Development of Community

Data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in two communities located in west Texas are used to explore individual-level manifestations of structural constraints to collective action and their associated factors. Multivariate logistic regression analyses reveal that twelve independent factors are statistically associated with one or more of five potentially common constraints cited by individuals as to why they do not devote more time to helping solve community problems. Possible implications of the findings for community theory and the practice of rural community development are advanced, as are suggestions for future research. The interactional field theoretical approach to social organization serves as the conceptual foundation for this investigation.

Community, Place, and Conservation

This chapter develops an analytical framework for examining the associations of community, place, and conservation. Community is characterized by place-oriented collective actions among a local population, through which residents express a shared sense of identity while engaging in the common concerns of life in the local society. Community-based natural resource management and conservation activities rooted in the assumptions, propositions, and concepts presented in this chapter have the potential to truly enhance the focus and effectiveness of resource management policies and practices at the community level.

Public Perception of the Natural Gas Industry: Insights from Two Barnett Shale Counties

Data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in two counties located in the Barnett Shale region of Texas were used to empirically explore issues associated with public perception of the natural gas industry. Moderate support was found for the hypothesis that individuals residing in places with diverse levels of energy development exhibit dissimilar perceptions of the energy industry. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses indicate that residents of the county where the natural gas industry is more mature (Wise County) exhibit somewhat more negative perceptions of the energy industry than do residents of the county where natural gas industry is less established (Johnson County). The results also reveal that mineral rights ownership is a relatively strong and consistent factor associated with public perception of the natural gas industry. Possible implications of these findings for the energy industry are proposed, as are suggestions for future research. Introduction Every August since 2001, the Gallup Organization has polled Americans on their views of more than 20 business and industry sectors in the country. The survey asks respondents to rate each business and industry sector in the United States on a fivepoint scale ranging from “very positive” to “very negative.” Between 2001 and 2007, the industries ranking near the top and bottom of the list have remained fairly consistent. Either the computer industry or the restaurant industry has topped the list as the most favorably viewed industry sector each year (computer industry rated most favorably in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004; restaurant industry rated most favorably in 2005, 2006, and 2007) (Newport 2007). Concomitantly, the oil and gas industry has constantly ranked at the bottom of the list. In 2001, the year of Gallup’s initial poll on the images of various business and industry sectors, slightly more the one-half of the survey respondents (54%) viewed the oil and gas industry in a negative manner (either “somewhat negative” or “very negative”). One year later, that percentage dropped to 44, and in 2003 it dropped to 43. From 2004 through 2006, however, this declining pattern reversed. The percentages of respondents who rated the oil and gas industry negatively in 2004, 2005, and 2006 were 58, 62, and 77, respectively. According to the most recent Gallup data (as of August 2007), approximately 2 in every 3 respondents (67%) regarded the oil and gas industry in a negative light (Newport 2007). Despite the vast number of macro-level public opinion surveys from the Gallup Organization and other national polling entities, surprisingly little theoretical and/or empirical research has been conducted on perceptual issues of the oil and gas industry in geographical areas where energy development is (or is quickly becoming) an integral part of the local society. The findings from such micro-level work will likely prove beneficial to the oil and gas industry in its decision-making processes. The purpose of this paper is to advance the scientific literature on public opinion of the energy industry. Specifically, public perception of the natural gas industry in two Barnett Shale counties with differing levels of established energy development is investigated. In doing so, the hypothesis that individuals residing in places with diverse levels of energy development exhibit dissimilar perceptions of the energy industry is tested. Data and Measurement Data were collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in two counties located in the Barnett Shale region of Texas. The counties selected as study-sites included Johnson County and Wise County (see Fig. 1). The two

State of knowledge about energy development impacts on North American rangelands: An integrative approach.

To reduce dependence on foreign oil reserves, there has been a push in North America to develop alternative domestic energy resources. Relatively undeveloped renewable energy resources include biofuels and wind and solar energy, many of which occur predominantly on rangelands. Rangelands are also key areas for natural gas development from shales and tight sand formations. Accordingly, policies aimed at greater energy independence are likely to affect the delivery of crucial ecosystem services provided by rangelands. Assessing and dealing with the biophysical and socio-economic effects of energy development on rangeland ecosystems require an integrative and systematic approach that is predicated on a broad understanding of diverse issues related to energy development. In this article, we present a road map for developing an integrative assessment of energy development on rangelands in North America. We summarize current knowledge of socio-economic and biophysical aspects of rangeland based energy development, and we identify knowledge gaps and monitoring indicators to fill these knowledge gaps.