Socio-psychological factors related to the social judgment of white-tailed deer hunting

Dale Allan Hall, Purdue University

Abstract

This study was developed to look at the likelihood of restrictions or bans placed on white-tailed deer hunting in Indiana and what factors are related to that likelihood. Social Judgment was chosen as a theoretical framework which incorporates several factors and can be presented in an illustrative manner to a general audience. The specific factors looked at in this study were attitude, involvement, and sociodemographics. A mail survey was conducted with a random sample of 2,500 Indiana residents, with an adjusted response rate of over 70%. Measurements from the sample of n = 1,625 found that there is little likelihood of public support for a ban on white-tailed deer hunting, although there are many individuals who did not feel that the current management practice was the most acceptable alternative. The graphical display of the social judgment of the white-tailed deer issue demonstrates that the theory generally accounted for the dynamics of the latitude or rejection as it relates to one's own "most acceptable" position on the issue with increases in latitudes of rejection at the more extreme issue positions. While the relationship between social judgment and involvement (indicated by constituency groups developed by scales of hunting and anti-hunting activities in which the respondent engaged) is ambiguous, the relationship between attitude and constituency groups is very clear. The sociodemographic variables were all significantly different across the social judgment of "most acceptable" position groups. This study presents an examination of a complex issue, white-tailed deer hunting, in which there are many groups with differing views which need to be understood. Several psychological mechanisms were integrated in this study in an effort to address this complexity.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

O'Leary, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Recreation|Forestry|Social psychology

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