Measuring social dimensions of sustainability at the community level: An illustrative but cautionary tale

Many communities are working to enhance the sustainability of their physical, economic, and social systems. While economic and physical systems are routinely measured (e.g., money, energy, greenhouse gas emissions), important psychological and behavioral elements of social systems (norms, attitudes, individual behavior) are seldom tracked. This research evaluated a potentially scalable approach to measuring the impact of local sustainability initiatives on these variables in a community engaged in a holistic effort to promote sustainability. Survey data were collected at two timepoints measuring pro-environmental thought and behavior in two small towns in Ohio: Oberlin, a community engaged in holistic efforts to enhance environmentally sustainable behavior; and Berea, a similar community used as a control. Despite verifiable changes in Oberlin due to sustainability programs and awareness of these programs, our survey results did not provide strong evidence that program efforts resulted ..., To evaluate the overall impact of a community-wide campaign to increase sustainability, we used an online survey in a 2 (Town) x 2 (Time) quasi-experiment. Our approach was designed to be a low cost (<$2,000) partial turn-key resource. Survey data were collected at two time points measuring pro-environmental thought and behavior in two small towns in Ohio: Oberlin, a community engaged in holistic efforts to enhance environmentally sustainable behavior; and Berea, a similar community used as a control. The survey content was informed by theory and research from the fields of sociology, social psychology, and community-based social marketing. It was also shaped by the particular sustainability initiatives that were planned for implementation. We used previously used survey items wherever possible.
Potential participants were randomly selected from a purchased mailing list. We intentionally oversampled in census tracts that were low-income and/or had higher percentages of people of colo..., , # Measuring social dimensions of sustainability at the community level: An illustrative but cautionary tale

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0p2ngf27r](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0p2ngf27r)

To evaluate the overall impact of a community-wide campaign to increase sustainability, we used an online survey in a 2 (Town) x 2 (Time) quasi-experiment. Our approach was designed to be a low cost (<$2,000) partial turn-key resource that other communities could use. Survey data were collected at two time points measuring pro-environmental thought and behavior in two small towns in Ohio: Oberlin, a community engaged in holistic efforts to enhance environmentally sustainable behavior; and Berea, a similar community used as a control. The survey content was informed by theory and research from the fields of sociology, social psychology, and community-based social marketing. It was also shaped by the particular sustainability initiatives that were planned for implementation. We used previously va...

诸多社区正致力于提升其物质、经济与社会系统的可持续性。尽管经济与物质系统通常可被常规量化监测（如货币、能源、温室气体排放等指标），但社会系统中至关重要的心理与行为要素（如社会规范、个体态度、个人行为）却鲜少被追踪记录。本研究针对一种具备潜在推广性的方法展开评估，该方法可用于衡量地方可持续发展举措对某一全面推进可持续发展的社区中上述变量的影响。研究在俄亥俄州的两座小城镇收集了两阶段的调查数据，用以测量亲环境认知与行为（pro-environmental thought and behavior）：其中奥伯林（Oberlin）是全面致力于提升环境可持续行为的社区，而伯里亚（Berea）则作为对照的相似社区。尽管奥伯林因可持续发展项目及公众对这些项目的认知发生了可验证的变化，但我们的调查结果并未提供强有力的证据表明项目举措已产生……,

为评估社区层面可持续提升运动的整体影响，我们采用在线调查开展了一项2（城镇）×2（时间）的准实验（quasi-experiment）。本研究方法被设计为低成本（低于2000美元）的部分交钥匙式资源（turn-key），可供其他社区复用。研究在俄亥俄州的两座小城镇收集了两阶段的调查数据，用以测量亲环境认知与行为：其中奥伯林是全面致力于提升环境可持续行为的社区，而伯里亚则作为对照的相似社区。调查问卷内容依托社会学、社会心理学及社区社会营销领域的理论与研究制定，同时也结合了当地计划实施的特定可持续发展举措进行调整。我们尽可能采用了已被过往研究使用过的调查问卷条目。

潜在参与者从购买的邮寄名单中随机抽取。我们有意对低收入且/或有色人种占比较高的普查区块进行了过度抽样……,

# 社区层面可持续性的社会维度测度：一则兼具示范性与警示意义的案例研究

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0p2ngf27r](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0p2ngf27r)

为评估社区层面可持续提升运动的整体影响，我们采用在线调查开展了一项2（城镇）×2（时间）的准实验。本研究方法被设计为低成本（低于2000美元）的部分交钥匙式资源，可供其他社区复用。研究在俄亥俄州的两座小城镇收集了两阶段的调查数据，用以测量亲环境认知与行为：其中奥伯林是全面致力于提升环境可持续行为的社区，而伯里亚则作为对照的相似社区。调查问卷内容依托社会学、社会心理学及社区社会营销领域的理论与研究制定，同时也结合了当地计划实施的特定可持续发展举措进行调整。我们尽可能采用了已被过往验证的……