Verbatim transcripts from the AARoN (Assessing Attitudes towards Rights of Nature) Project: Development of a discourse tool for discussing contentious topics with polarized groups
Description
Overview: This data set contains verbatim text of two-2hr (8 graduate students, 8 undergraduate students) peer moderated group sessions composed of politically polarized individuals designed to discuss attitudes towards the rights of nature (namely that of water), the script that guided the moderators, and an overview of the project study design. The text supports the notion that polarized groups of individuals will respectfully understand a political opposite’s views on water since both groups inherently value water, the environments they inhabit, and community. Background: Given that environmental issues in the United States are politicized, we endeavored to test a Theory of Change regarding attitudes towards water and the environmental rights of ecosystems. We hypothesize that polarized groups of individuals will not change their political attitudes but will respectfully understand a political opposite’s views on water since both groups inherently value water, the environments they inhabit, and community. Conclusion: With respect to our test of the Theory of Change, our hypothesis was not supported since our approach did not change participants' attitudes as determined by pre- and post focus session surveys of attitudes. However, garnered proofs that a respectful and insightful discussion and thus our goal (and its hypothesis) was achieved. Therefore, the tool we developed is both appropriate and useful. Date uses: The transcript test were used to evaluate the design and execution of a research tool to provide an open discussion of potentially contentious issues, such as the Rights of Nature. Details: Contact the authors directly or through publication records to view the approach and specifics of how these statements were coded to support the research questions.
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Steps to reproduce
In order to determine how the Rights of Nature legal framework could be applied in the rural context of Northern New York, we used university student focus groups as a test community. For this pilot project, we restricted our subjects to students of a small technologically-oriented private university (Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York). The project was designed (Figure 1_AARoN Project Activity Flowchart) to select students that represented polarized groups and engage them in discussions led by trained peer-moderators who guided responses to a scripted set of queries designed to challenge the participants view on nature (specifically, water). Participants graduate and undergraduate students enrolled at Clarkson University, in Potsdam, New York. Two focus groups of 10 people each were selected with 5 members representing the far ends (left and right) of a political spectrum, as determined by response to a survey designed to assess political views. Two trained peer moderators guided the two-hour discussions with the polarized group of graduate and undergraduate students that took place on February 12, and February 19, 2024, respectively. Moderators followed a prescribed script (Table 1_Moderator scripts for group discussions). The group sessions were video and audio recorded and the transcript from these sessions was transcribed into verbatim text. The text was vetted by the authors of his data article.
Institutions
- Algoma UniversityON, Sault Sainte Marie
- Clarkson UniversityNY, Potsdam
Categories
Funders
- New York State Economic Development CouncilNew York, United StatesGrant ID: New York State Center of Excellence in Healthy Water Solutions (Award C190175)