Abstract
Research Highlights: Ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) are a fresh approach to measuring behavior by querying the subject in real time. Typical studies of FFO behavior use self-reported survey data. FFOs across the United States collectively own more forested land than any other ownership category, and their actions will impact the public goods these forests provide. Thus, better measures of FFO actions are critical to understanding how these public goods may be affected. Background and Objectives: In this pilot study, we evaluated the potential of ecological momentary assessments to understand family forest owner (FFO) engagement with their woods. We sought to test recruitment, attrition, and participant reaction to the method. Materials and Methods: FFOs belong to woodland owner associations were sent the same questions weekly for a month, asking about woodland engagement. Results: Nearly 90% of participants completed all four surveys and the majority found the method reasonable. Most participants thought about their woods weekly, but a longer time period is needed to measure temporal management trends. Conclusions: This approach may yield real-time and useful information about natural resource engagement to inform conservation-based programming and outreach.
Highlights
Ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) are repeated samples of behavior in real time, most commonly used in health science research [1,2]
Due to the low response rate from non-woodland owner association members, the remainder of this paper focuses only on woodland owner association members
It was determined that mailed postcards were not an effective way to recruit participants for this digital survey effort
Summary
Ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) are repeated samples of behavior in real time, most commonly used in health science research [1,2]. Traditional data collection methods in the social sciences (e.g., retrospective questionnaires) are subject to limitations in external validity, and uncertainties in how far the findings can be generalized beyond the investigation [3]. Survey results are subject to recall bias and do not capture specific intra-subject variability, when respondents have to generalize an experience or behavior to a certain timeframe [4,5]. Smartphone technology has largely taken the place of other devices, such as pagers or beepers, to collect real time data and remind a respondent to answer a question or phone the study coordinator [6,7]. EMAs have not been used in forestry research to date
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