FLOOD09697

• County: Statewide
• Community: Nationwide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Mathematical Modeling of a Sociological and Hydrologic Decision System
• Date: 6/1/1978
• Prepared By: Institute for Social Science Research on Natural Resources, Utah State Univ.
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

denl's perceptions and expressed feelings about these
proposals.

Expansion and Testing of Social Variables

The second phase of this study sought 10 im-
prove the inslrument used 10 measure these social fac-
tors. Specifically, the goal was 10 scale respondents
on a continuum for particular variables. Therefore, the
survey questions were changed to replace discrete cate-
gories with continuous scales except in such discrete
situations as the sex of respondent. At the same time,
it was desired 10 preserve as much comparability as
possible belween Ihe flIst and second questionnaires
for Ihe purpose ofreliabilily;consequently, changes
in the questions were conslructed to permit data from
the second phase schedule to be collapsed 10 the same
categories as the dala from the first phase. Almost all
of the variables tesl.ed and found to be significanl in
the first phase were included in the second phase sur-
vey. A complete list of variables measured in Ihe sec-
ond phase is shown as Appendix A. A reduced list of
Ihe important variables (in one or more of the regres-
sion equations) is found in Table 2.1.

Atlilude Measuremenl

Special groups of questions were scored and
structured inlo scales 10 measure the attitudes likely
to be important in the public evaluation of flood con-
trol methods. These scales are titled as follows along
with their code identily:

I. Concern for Flooding as a Problem in the
Respondent's Area (CONCI.)
II. Attitude Toward the Effect of Man-Made
. Objects Upon Beauly of Nature (MANL)
III. Leisure Orienlalion (LEIL)
IV. Ouldoor Recreation Orientation (RECL)
V. WilIingness to Pay for Government Ex-
pendilures (pAYL)
VI. Ecological Orienlation (ECOL)
VII. Willingness to Follow Advice of Experts
(EXPTL)
VIII. Willingness to Follow Government Agen-
cies (AGENL)

Each variable was evaluated from llkerl-Type
summated score scales. Appendix B shows Ihe method,
Ihe variables, and the queslions (items) constiluling
each scale in the main questionnaire. Each item may
itself be trealed as a variable as well as be used in form-
ing the lotal scale.

The items composing each scale were derived
from the results of a pre-tesl sample (N = 37) from
Ihe same population as Ihe main sample. The tech.

niques used to analyze the pretest resull.s to select
scale items for the main schedule were item analysis,

Table 2.1 Variables found important in one or more
regression equations and their theoretical
ranges as measured in the First Phase of
the study for identifying significant var~
abies.

Range from Mini-
mum to Maximum

A - Length at reSIdence at present home 0-14
B Participation in organizations 0-31
D Environment oriented daily newspaper 0-1
received regularly
F Perceived likelihood of flooding at 0-3
present,reiidence
G Stream proximity 1-3
H Length of residence in local area 0-16
I Income 1-9
J Attitude toward a particular flood con- 1.S'
ttolplan,J
K Awareness of local flooding problems ()"1
L Perception of local flood control man- l-S
agemen t
M Marital status 0-2
N Rural versus urban background 1-4
0 Occupation 0-99
P Attitude toward plan P l-S
Q Condition of home, yard and neighbor- l-S
hood
S General concern about flooding 0-3
T Non-environmental oriented newspaper 0-1
regularly received
U Discussed flooding problems with others 0-4
V Perceived adequacy of local parks 1-3
W Flooding experienced during lifetime 1-4
X Man-made feature beauty score 0-6
y Attitude toward plan Y l-S
Z Natural features beauty score 0-6
d Perceived stream hazard to children 0-1
c = Education 0-8
g Environmental orientation l-S
h Home ownership 0-1
Knowledge of local governmental flood 0-2
control agencies
j Age of individual Actual
k Knowledge about flood control pro- o-S
jects
p Po titical activity score 0-4
t Perceived level of local taxes l-S
u Group membership 0-31
w Daily newspaper received 0-1
x Social class 20-134
~ Promotion of flood control proposal 1-2
Main source of information about ()..9
flooding
A At.titude toward plan Lambda 1-5
"f Membership in flood control group 1-5
'" Overt opposition to flood control pro- 1-2
posal
n= Attitude toward plan Omega 1-5
7) With whom discussed flooding problems 0-4
^ Sex 0-1
/l Number of children in family 0-7
v Leisure orientation l-S
<P Attendance at flood control meeting or 1-2
hearing
A Knowledge of reeeD t flooding 0-1

10