I am looking for both ideas and references in the area of logic models and/or change models, particularly as they apply to sustainability initiatives. I have been exploring the area of effectiveness, but less from the perspective of the multiple dimensions by which we decide something is more or less effective and more from a broader conceptual sense of how human service organizations structure effective work. Mostly, from both my experience and research, I would say that the actual model of engagement or action used in environmental nonprofits is a habitual one, based on institutional norms (coercive or mimetic) in their field of activity. Few explicitly consider how their programs or activities or strategies are actually intended to accomplish change, and fewer do this in a thorough and/or research based manner. At this stage, I am attempting to rough out this broad field, and am looking for things such as case studies (of orgs which use or consider explicit change models, or have an explicit logic for how their offerings are intended to work), typologies (eg what are the kinds of engagements or interventions in use in human service organizations awareness, education, skill training, social influence, attitudinal change, positive or negative inducements, social marketing, legal coercion etc etc.) which consider the relationships between the means used and the ends desired. Do we have a painters palette of program approaches or strategic possibilities to consider and to understand particular activities as examples of?
If you feel your contribution to this query would be of interest to this list, by all means share your thoughts. Otherwise, if you could email me specifically, I would appreciate it.
Many thanks.
Ray
Dr. Raymond Dart
Associate Professor, Business Administration
Trent University Peterborough, CANADA
on Sabbatical at Waikato Management School University of Waikato
Hamilton, New Zealand
ext. 6409
Change Models for Community Environmental Initiatives
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Hi Ray and others
We have been researching effective behaviour change models over the last 3 years with the aim of greenhouse gas reduction. We've been looking at tools to achieve action amongst participating households in partnership with Murdoch University researchers. This culminated in the program GreenHouses (see http://www.greenhouses.org.au/) which uses the relevant information plus goal setting behaviour change model and uses 3-4 communication pathways to engage residents. On the home page at the bottom you can see the pilot project report which contains an extensive evaluation to measure if it works. This involves numerous meter readings over the course of the project of participating and control group households. This work has also been written up as part of a PhD thesis by Lucy Sheehy at Murdoch University.
Since the CSBM Advanced workshops here in Western Australia last May, we are trying to extend our reach in the community and employing CSBM on 5 specific energy actions. We have gone through the process of focus groups and phone surveys to identify and rank perceived barriers and benefits on two hot water actions (lowering temperature settings on hot water units and choosing cold water use in washing machines) so far and now are testing 3 engagement models on 200 households to measure change on these specific actions across the community (no write-up yet - this will be in the next 2 months). Later this year we hope to research the remaining 3 actions using CSBM principles and test the individualised marketing approach to engage residents. This particular approach has been developed by Socialdata for the TravelSmart program and is achieving measurable success in Australia and overseas.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Stephanie
Dr Stephanie Jennings
Regional Greenhouse Coordinator
Southern Metropolitan Regional Council
Almondbury Rd Ardross 6153 PO Box 1501
Booragoon 6954
phone 08 9316 3988
fax 08 9316 3788
email: [email protected]
websites: www.smrc.com.au
www.greenhouses.org.au
www.livingsmart.org.au
Ray,
Let me respond on two levels -- the "how to" and the "what to" change levels. For the how to change models for commmunity environmental initiatives, you may have to change behavior patterns. For some inspiration, I would look into the The Montana Summer Institute's program on development, implementation and evaluation of social norms http://institute.mostofus.org/ For the what to change inspiration, I would look at some of the project work of the Institute for 21st Century Agoras http://www.globalagoras.org/ebuzz.html
Both of these organizations are setting themselves out to be change agents .... through distinct paths. I am sure that there are other colors to add to the palette, too.
Cheers,
Tom Flanagan
College of Management UMASS Boston
Ray,
Below are a few references that might tap you into literatures that could be helpful.
Best,
Kif Scheuer
Doctoral Candidate
School of Natural Resources and Environment
University of Michigan
[email protected]
De Young, R. (1993). Changing Behavior and Making it Stick: the Conceptualization and Management of Conservation Behavior. Environment and Behavior, 25 (4), 485-505.
Blumstein, C., Goldstone, S., & Lutzenhiser, L. (2000). A theory-based approach to market transformation. Energy Policy, 28, 137-144.
Hoffman, A. J., Riley, H. C., Troast Jr., J. G., & Bazerman, M. H. (2002). Cognitive and institutional barriers to new forms of cooperation on environmental protection. American Behavioral Scientist, 45 (5), 820-845.
Kaplan, S., & Kaplan, R. (2003). Health, Supportive Environments, and the Reasonable Person Model. American Journal of Public Health, 93 (9), 1489-1489.
Dear Ray,
Social Change Media (SCM) uses a "Seven Doors" model for designing programs with behaviour change objectives (especially those with a sustainability focus). The Seven Doors model was developed by SCM consultant Les Robinson and links theories of voluntary change with the discipline of program design. It includes an evaluation tool to test whether your project or strategy is likely to lead to the adoption of new behaviours. A summary of this model can be found at: http://media.socialchange.net.au/people/les/7_doors_page.htmLes has also published an impressive research paper on his "Seven Doors" model at: http://media.socialchange.net.au/people/les/Voluntary_change.pdf
Regards,
Mark McGrath
-- Director Social Change Media Group Pty Ltd
ABN: 78 104 663 498
-- tel: (02) 4787 8711
mob: 0403 349 332
Although our organization does not work in the environmental field, we are very interested in models of change and community engagement. We have recently commissioned some work on models of change to support our work with community groups in the diversity area. While the area of work is different, the models might be of interest. In particular we were looking for a model or models that laid out the different kinds of citizenship engagement and change initiatives, and the links between those initiatives and desired outcomes. The following resources might be helpful.
Pathways to Change: Facilitating the Full Participation of Diversity Groups in Canadian Society http://www.cd.gov.ab.ca/helping_albertans/human_rights/PublicationsNew/D iversityPublications/EFC/P2CBACKGROUND.pdf
Pathways to Change: Facilitating the Full Participation of Diversity Groups in Canadian Society - A Tool for Organizations http://www.cd.gov.ab.ca/helping_albertans/human_rights/PublicationsNew/D iversityPublications/EFC/P2CTOOL.pdf
Another resource that we commissioned lays out logic models for diversity education programs, however I suspect it might be helpful for education programs in other areas. See Diversity Education for Change: A Guide to Planning and Management http://www.cd.gov.ab.ca/helping_albertans/human_rights/PublicationsNew/D iversityPublications/DERP/DivEdTools.pdf
And finally, a very common-sense publication on outcome and logic models is Splash & Ripple: Using Outcomes to Design & Manage Community Activities http://www.cd.gov.ab.ca/helping_albertans/human_rights/PublicationsNew/D iversityPublications/Splash/index.asp
Cassie Palamar
Manager, Education and Commission Services
Human Rights and Citizenship
Alberta Community Development
Suite 310, 525 - 11 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2R 0C9
Telephone: 403 297-7437
Fax: 403 297-6567
[email protected]
www.helpmakeadifference.com
www.cd.gov.ab.ca
www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca
Dr. Raymond Dart,
I have personally found the work done by the sustainable development branch of DEFRA (UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) interesting and well supported. The "key Documents" list at the below link has some useful analyses and summaries of the various schools of thought on behavioural motivations and change. http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/government/task-forces/behaviour-change.htm
Aaron Heng