Basic Beliefs About Wildlife and Migration: The Influence of the Prior State of Residence

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study compared mean scores on four items from the appropriate use basic belief dimension of the domination wildlife value orientation scale between life-long Alaska residents and migrants to Alaska from the western United States. Basic beliefs were compared among the migrant-sourcing states. Data were collected through a mail survey; 2,264 questionnaires were completed (27% response rate) and 1,673 responses were included in this analysis. When aggregated, migrants scored lower on the appropriate use basic beliefs than life-long Alaskans (M = 4.8 vs. 4.2), but no significant differences were found among the migrant-sourcing states. Among the migrants, length of time living in Alaska and education were predictors of basic belief scores. Although migrants might be exerting a slightly less utilitarian force on Alaska’s dominant orientation toward wildlife, results also allow for the possibility that migrants with utilitarian-leaning views are choosing to move to Alaska.