IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v10y2021i12p1303-d688635.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Methodological Challenges in Studying Trust in Natural Resources Management

Author

Listed:
  • Antonia Sohns

    (Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
    The Roux Institute, Northeastern University, 100 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101, USA)

  • Gordon M. Hickey

    (Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada)

  • Jasper R. de Vries

    (Strategic Communication Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8130, 6700 EW Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Owen Temby

    (School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA)

Abstract

Trust has been identified as a central characteristic of successful natural resource management (NRM), particularly in the context of implementing participatory approaches to stakeholder engagement. Trust is, however, a multi-dimensional and multi-level concept that is known to evolve recursively through time, challenging efforts to empirically measure its impact on collaboration in different NRM settings. In this communication we identify some of the challenges associated with conceptualizing and operationalizing trust in NRM field research, and pay particular attention to the inter-relationships between the concepts of trust, perceived risk and control due to their multi-dimensional and interacting roles in inter-organizational collaboration. The challenge of studying trust begins with its conceptualization, which impacts the terminology being used, thereby affecting the subsequent operationalization of trust in survey and interview measures, and the interpretation of these measures by engaged stakeholders. Building from this understanding, we highlight some of the key methodological considerations, including how trust is being conceptualized and how the associated measures are being developed, deployed, and validated in order to facilitate cross-context and cross-level comparisons. Until these key methodological issues are overcome, the nuanced roles of trust in NRM will remain unclear.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonia Sohns & Gordon M. Hickey & Jasper R. de Vries & Owen Temby, 2021. "Methodological Challenges in Studying Trust in Natural Resources Management," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:12:p:1303-:d:688635
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/12/1303/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/12/1303/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Murunga, Michael & Partelow, Stefan & Breckwoldt, Annette, 2021. "Drivers of collective action and role of conflict in Kenyan fisheries co-management," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    2. Timothy C. Earle, 2010. "Trust in Risk Management: A Model‐Based Review of Empirical Research," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 541-574, April.
    3. Andres M. Urcuqui-Bustamante & Theresa L. Selfa & Paul Hirsch & Catherine M. Ashcraft, 2021. "Uncovering Stakeholder Participation in Payment for Hydrological Services (PHS) Program Decision Making in Mexico and Colombia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-26, July.
    4. Delerue, Hélène, 2004. "Relational Risks Perception in European Biotechnology Alliances:: The Effect of Contextual Factors," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 22(5), pages 546-556, October.
    5. Prashant Kale & Harbir Singh & Howard Perlmutter, 2000. "Learning and protection of proprietary assets in strategic alliances: building relational capital," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(3), pages 217-237, March.
    6. Schweitzer, Maurice E. & Hershey, John C. & Bradlow, Eric T., 2006. "Promises and lies: Restoring violated trust," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 101(1), pages 1-19, September.
    7. McIntyre, Kathleen B. & Schultz, Courtney A., 2020. "Facilitating collaboration in forest management: Assessing the benefits of collaborative policy innovations," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    8. Ray, Biswajit & Mukherjee, Promita & Bhattacharya, Rabindra N., 2017. "Attitudes and cooperation: does gender matter in community-based forest management?," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(5), pages 594-623, October.
    9. Nooteboom, B. & Berger, H. & Noorderhaven, N.G., 1997. "Effects of trust and governance on relational risk," Other publications TiSEM 8e83932e-064c-40e8-afe7-4, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    10. de Vries, Jasper R. & Aarts, Noelle & Lokhorst, Anne Marike & Beunen, Raoul & Munnink, Josefien Oude, 2015. "Trust related dynamics in contested land use," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 302-310.
    11. Ling-Yun He & Hong-Zhen Zhang, 2021. "Spillover or crowding out? The effects of environmental regulation on residents’ willingness to pay for environmental protection," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 105(1), pages 611-630, January.
    12. Carl Österlin & Peter Schlyter & Ingrid Stjernquist, 2020. "Different Worldviews as Impediments to Integrated Nature and Cultural Heritage Conservation Management: Experiences from Protected Areas in Northern Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-15, April.
    13. Lisa M PytlikZillig & Christopher D Kimbrough & Ellie Shockley & Tess M S Neal & Mitchel N Herian & Joseph A Hamm & Brian H Bornstein & Alan J Tomkins, 2017. "A longitudinal and experimental study of the impact of knowledge on the bases of institutional trust," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(4), pages 1-31, April.
    14. Hotte, Ngaio & Kozak, Robert & Wyatt, Stephen, 2019. "How institutions shape trust during collective action: A case study of forest governance on Haida Gwaii," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 1-1.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ali, Tahir & Khalid, Saba & Shahzad, Khuram & Larimo, Jorma, 2021. "Managing international joint ventures to improve performance: The role of structural and social mechanisms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    2. Reuer, Jeffrey J. & Arino, Africa & Mellewigt, Thomas, 2006. "Entrepreneurial alliances as contractual forms," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 306-325, May.
    3. Contractor, Farok J. & Woodley, James A., 2015. "How the alliance pie is split: Value appropriation by each partner in cross-border technology transfer alliances," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 535-547.
    4. Céline Bérard & Marie Perez, 2014. "Alliance Dynamics through Real Options: The Case of an Alliance between Competing Pharmaceutical Companies," Post-Print hal-04010373, HAL.
    5. Kang, Inwon & Han, Shin & Shin, Geon-Cheol, 2014. "A process leading to strategic alliance outcome: The case of IT companies in China, Japan and Korea," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(6), pages 1127-1138.
    6. Delbufalo, Emanuela, 2015. "Subjective trust and perceived risk influences on exchange performance in supplier–manufacturer relationships," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 84-101.
    7. Katarzyna Sienkiewicz-Małyjurek, 2022. "Interpretive structural modelling of inter-agency collaboration risk in public safety networks," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1193-1221, June.
    8. Hualiang Lu & Shuyi Feng & Jacques H. Trienekens & S.W.F. Omta, 2012. "Network strength, transaction‐specific investments, inter‐personal trust, and relationship satisfaction in Chinese agri‐food SMEs," China Agricultural Economic Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 4(3), pages 363-378, August.
    9. Ramírez-García, Carolina & Vélez-Elorza, María L. & Alvarez-ardet-Espejo, María Concepción, 2013. "¿Cómo controlan los franquiciadores españoles a sus franquiciados?," Revista de Contabilidad - Spanish Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10.
    10. Delerue, Hélène & Simon, Eric, 2009. "National cultural values and the perceived relational risks in biotechnology alliance relationships," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 14-25, February.
    11. Janowicz, M.K. & Noorderhaven, N.G., 2002. "The Role of Trust in Interorganizational Learning in Joint Ventures," Discussion Paper 2002-119, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    12. Jasper R. de Vries & Eva van der Zee & Raoul Beunen & Rianne Kat & Peter H. Feindt, 2019. "Trusting the People and the System. The Interrelation Between Interpersonal and Institutional Trust in Collective Action for Agri-Environmental Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-18, December.
    13. Jochen Schweitzer, 2016. "How Contracts And Culture Mediate Joint Transactions Of Innovation Partnerships," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(01), pages 1-33, January.
    14. Pei-Li Yu, 2019. "Interfirm coopetition, trust, and opportunism: a mediated moderation model," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(5), pages 1069-1092, November.
    15. Janowicz, M.K. & Noorderhaven, N.G., 2002. "The Role of Trust in Interorganizational Learning in Joint Ventures," Other publications TiSEM f10debea-9d7b-47c3-8d4f-b, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    16. Mukherjee, Debmalya & Gaur, Ajai S. & Gaur, Sanjaya S. & Schmid, Florian, 2013. "External and internal influences on R&D alliance formation: Evidence from German SMEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(11), pages 2178-2185.
    17. En Xie & Yuan Li & Zhongfeng Su & Hock-Hai Teo, 2010. "The Determinants of Local Suppliers’ Trust Towards Foreign Buyers," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 50(5), pages 585-611, October.
    18. Cheng, Jao-Hong & Fu, Ya-Chi, 2013. "Inter-organizational relationships and knowledge sharing through the relationship and institutional orientations in supply chains," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 473-484.
    19. Bérard, Céline & Perez, Marie, 2014. "Alliance dynamics through real options: The case of an alliance between competing pharmaceutical companies," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 337-349.
    20. Emanuela Delbufalo, 2012. "Subjective trust, perceived risk and exchange performance in buyer-supplier relationships," Working Papers - Economics wp2012_10.rdf, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze per l'Economia e l'Impresa.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:12:p:1303-:d:688635. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.