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Voice, perceived fairness, agency trust, and acceptance of management decisions among Minnesota anglers

March 14, 2017

Although researchers agree that public participation in natural resource decision making is critical to institutional acceptance by stakeholders and the general public, the processes to gain public perceptions of fairness, agency trust, and acceptance of management decisions are not clear. Using results from a mail survey of Minnesota resident anglers, we used structural equation modeling to examine how instrumental versus symbolic motives related to anglers’ perceptions of agency fairness, trustworthiness, and ultimately acceptance of fisheries management decisions. We applied laboratory research on relationships among procedural fairness, trust, and management acceptance, and then tested models incorporating anglers’ perceptions of voice for anglers and nonanglers in management decisions. Results suggested that trust fully mediated the relationship between procedural fairness and management acceptance. Angler perceptions of angler and nonangler voice both related to views of procedural fairness, but angler voice was more strongly related and was also significantly related to acceptance of management decisions.

Publication Year 2017
Title Voice, perceived fairness, agency trust, and acceptance of management decisions among Minnesota anglers
DOI 10.1080/08941920.2016.1238987
Authors Susan A. Schroeder, David C. Fulton
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Society and Natural Resources
Index ID 70185029
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Coop Res Unit Leetown