Applying the best available science to fire management: Individual and organizational influences to success (Abstract)

Abstract

Fifty years of scientific literature on human behavior, communication and organizations offers numerous insights into the communication and use of science in the context of public land management. Using diverse but complementary social science theories and methods, I studied individual and organizational influences on the use of science by federal fire managers and decision-makers. Results supported the Technology Acceptance Model by showing individual beliefs about research usefulness to be better predictors of use than beliefs about ease of use. Overall, individual beliefs and attitudes toward research were diverse, with National Park Service managers, fire ecologists, and those with graduate education showing more positive attitudes toward research, more use of research and more frequent relationships with scientists.

Citation

Wright, Vita. 2012. Applying the best available science to fire management: Individual and organizational influences to success (Abstract). In: Robinson, M., comp. Program and Abstracts of 3rd Human Dimensions in Wildland Fire Conference; 17-19 April 2012; Seattle, Washington. Missoula, MT: International Association of Wildland Fire. p. 105.