Grantee Research Project Results

Eliciting Environmental Values A Constructivist Approach

EPA Grant Number: R824706
Title: Eliciting Environmental Values A Constructivist Approach
Investigators: Fischhoff, Baruch
Institution: Carnegie Mellon University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 1995 through September 30, 1997 (Extended to September 30, 1998)
Project Amount: $99,987
RFA: Valuation and Environmental Policy (1995) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Justice

Description:

The goal of this project is to advance the state of science and craft for eliciting values regarding environmental changes. It is anticipated that the research will contribute both to the scientific literature on values and to the solution of pending policy problems. The research has focused on four areas: (1) theoretical analysis of how environmental evaluation tasks must be specified in order to be unambiguously defined (so that respondents know what the question is and investigators know how to interpret their responses); (2) experimental test of issues related to magnitude insensitive valuation (sometimes known as embedding or scope insensitivity); (3) methodological development of an alternative to conventional contingent valuation methodology, suitable for situations in which people cannot be expected to produce meaningful responses within the constraints of a survey interview; and (4) development of an experimental testbed for applying (and evaluating) the methodology.

The researchers are looking for a real-world project for testing their approach. The current options are: (1) a project looking at citizens' willingness to pay for reduced health risks; (2) a project looking at citizens' willingness to pay for preserving (or improving) surface water quality; (3) a project on health risks; and (4) a project on incorporating environmental concerns in standard industrial accounting.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 10 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 6 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

RFA, Scientific Discipline, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Ecology, Economics, Ecology and Ecosystems, decision-making, Social Science, Economics & Decision Making, alternative compensation, compensation, contingent valuation, ecosystem valuation, policy analysis, social psychology, surveys, surface water policy, risk reduction, social impact analysis, valuation, decision analysis, economic benefits, environmental assets, incentives, public issues, valuing environmental quality, cost benefit, economic incentives, environmental values, information dissemination, market valuation models, preference formation, standards of value, constructivist approach, environmental policy, industrial accounting, community-based, psychological attitudes, public values, public policy, willingness to pay, interviews, cost effectiveness, economic objectives, multi-criteria decision analysis

Progress and Final Reports:

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.