Support or against coal mining? Host community perceptions of coal mining: a cluster analysis

Abstract

For a successful resource development, it is requisite to appraise residents’ perceptions of the impacts of coal resource development. This study aims to explain how coal exploitation influences local residents’ perception. The analysis uses a demographically and perceptively diversified sample of 450 farmers residing in the vicinity of mines. Then factor clustering analysis is carried out on the samples. Chi-squared and independent sample T tests were used to examine the associations between residents’ perception with the triple bottom line and residents’ natures. The results of this study reveal that the four groups (advocates, objectors, cautious-advocates and cautious-objectors) differ significantly on their perceived impacts of the coal resource development with respect to its environmental, sociocultural and economic contributions. And those results have both managerial and policy implications in the locals participating in planning and managing coal resource development.