Record Details
Preferences and Strategies of Interest Groups and their Constituents in the Responsible Development of Wave Energy Technology in Oregon
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Preferences and Strategies of Interest Groups and their Constituents in the Responsible Development of Wave Energy Technology in Oregon |
| Names |
Covell, Zachary
(creator) Conway, Flaxen (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 2017-06-30 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 2014 |
| Abstract | During 2007 proposals for wave energy technology projects in Oregon's nearshore stirred up attention as interest groups experienced rapid changes both socially and economically. The purpose of this research was to analyze factors influencing interest groups and their membership so as to examine their preferences and strategies pertaining to emerging wave energy technology.Using qualitative research methods, this study includes: 1) an in-depth content analysis of semi- structured interviews specifically seeking to learn where people, namely interest groups, acquire their information about wave energy and if they currently have strategies to promote their preferences; 2) stakeholder input from surveys sent throughout the state to interest group representatives spanning five different sectors; and 3) an evaluation of interview and survey data using a backdrop of five research questions to tell the story wave energy development has had on interest groups in five sectors. Five interest group sectors were: 1) workforce, 2) commercial fishing, 3) recreational, 4) environmental, and 5) energy developers. Key findings suggest interest groups formulate their strategies based on how informative their sources of information were and where their membership lives in proximity to the coast. A significant trait evidenced by the formation of interest groups with a smaller membership was their use of lobbying. Some groups, regardless of their size, took a much more cautious stance to wave energy as there was a continued need to collect information from their membership. Interest groups were not always subscribing to the notion of a consensus approach as some groups were informed but hesitant in how to participate in wave energy as their leadership was also focused on other projects. |
| Genre | Research Paper |
| Access Condition | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/ |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/61696 |
