Application of Q-methodology for identifying factors of acceptance of spatial planning instruments

Abstract

Worldwide, urbanization leads to increased pressure on prime agricultural land with irreversible impacts on the provision of life-supporting services such as food and drinking water production or habitat for plants and animals. As a basis for designing new policy instruments to protect soil resources, we applied Q-methodology to assess factors that influence the acceptance or rejection of such instruments. Using an online survey and interviews, we identified different social perspectives and their respective argumentation patterns. The results show that effect on people, institutional embeddedness, trust in the acting institutions, and the overall understanding of the instrument are the most important factors for the acceptance of policy instruments fostering the sustainable use of soil resources. During the interviews, idealistic and fact-based arguments were more important than person-based arguments. Based on our results, communication strategies in the policy-making process can be improved and tailored to the identified characteristics of the social perspectives.