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Psychological and Geographic Components of Acceptance for Black Bears in Ohio

Zajac, Ryan Michael

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Natural Resources.
In three papers this thesis provides contributions to our theoretical understanding of the factors driving the acceptance of black bears. The papers all work to this same end, but they each approach the topic from different perspectives. The first paper presents the relationship between the cognitive psychological variables that influence acceptance. The variables: perceived risk and benefit, internal locus of control, salient value similarity, and social trust were hypothesized to influence acceptance. Results illustrate that existing theory largely explained the observed relationships found in this research. The hypothesized model explained over 60% of the variance in acceptance. While this first paper is concerned exclusively with individuals, the second and third papers examine differences among groups of people. Within the second paper differences among the variables of interest were examined between people that fell into different classes based on knowledge scores and experience levels with bears. Results did not indicate that knowledge levels and experience with bears moderate people’s attitudes toward bears, perceived risk and benefit from bears. The third paper examines how the variables of interest in the previous papers are distributed spatially across the landscape of Ohio. More specifically, I tried to expand upon the common notions of rural and urban resident differences by examining differences between residents in urban, suburban, exurban, and rural areas. I did find some differences among residents of the different areas providing support for the existence of a social exurbia related to wildlife. Results identified that respondents from urban areas were more positive towards bears and trusting of the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Respondents from rural areas were more likely to prefer a future increase in bear populations and were also more knowledgeable about bears.
Jeremy Bruskotter (Advisor)
Stanley Gehrt (Committee Member)
Robyn Wilson (Committee Member)
168 p.

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Citations

  • Zajac, R. M. (2010). Psychological and Geographic Components of Acceptance for Black Bears in Ohio [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1276791670

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zajac, Ryan. Psychological and Geographic Components of Acceptance for Black Bears in Ohio. 2010. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1276791670.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zajac, Ryan. "Psychological and Geographic Components of Acceptance for Black Bears in Ohio." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1276791670

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)