Methodological and Theoretical Advances in the Social Assessment of Ecosystem Services

This dissertation advances the methodological and theoretical foundations of the social assessment of ecosystem services, a growing research approach that uses survey and interview methods to examine how people perceive, prioritize, and relate to nature’s contributions to human well-being. Responding to long-standing critiques of biophysical and economic assessments—including their limitations in capturing social diversity, cultural meaning, and policy relevance—this dissertation presents three empirical studies that improve how social values are captured and interpreted within ecosystem services research.

The first study offers a methodological contribution by demonstrating how the social assessment of ecosystem services can be used to compare expert and public stakeholder perspectives in the Portneuf River Watershed, Idaho. It introduces a structured framework for analyzing perceptions across four social dimensions: recognition, importance, perceived change over time, and the impacts of land-use on service delivery. The results reveal both alignment and divergence in stakeholder views, providing practical insights for participatory and inclusive environmental management.

The second study turns to theory, introducing a value-based model of preference formation. Using a survey across the contiguous United States, it explores how Schwartz’s theory of basic human values predicts individual preferences for provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services. The findings show that self-transcendence and openness to change values are strongly associated with higher concern for environmental services, offering theoretical clarity on why people value certain ecosystem services over others.

The third study integrates these methodological and theoretical insights into a local case study of the Tennessee River in East Tennessee. It examines how value orientations predict both ecosystem service preferences and policy solution preferences related to plastic pollution. Results show that individuals who prioritize self-transcendence values are more likely to support collective and regulatory policy solutions, highlighting the practical significance of linking values to policy preferences. Together, these three studies demonstrate that the social assessment of ecosystem services is a transferable, scalable, and policy-relevant approach.