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Handbook of Research Methods and Applications in Environmental Studies
This volume presents methods to advance the understanding of interdependencies between the well-being of human societies and the performance of their biophysical environment. It showcases applications to material and energy use; urbanization and technological transition; economic growth and social vulnerabilities; development and governance of social and industrial networks; the role of history, culture, and science itself in carrying out analysis and guiding policy; as well as the role of theory, data, and models in guiding decisions.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
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This Handbook presents methods to advance the understanding of interdependencies between the well-being of human societies and the performance of their biophysical environment. It showcases applications to material and energy use; urbanization and technological transition; economic growth and social vulnerabilities; development and governance of social and industrial networks; and the role of history, culture, and science itself in carrying out analysis and guiding policy as well as the role of theory, data, and models in guiding decisions.
Unique features include:
• in-depth presentation of methods and applications in environmental studies
• diverse examples of research methods complemented by a wide geographic and thematic range of applications
• a careful balance between a review of the state of the art in environmental studies and an exploration of new developments in research methods and applications
• strong emphasis on historic, social, and cultural issues together with the life sciences needed to fully assess environmental change
• accessibility to a wide readership.
Academics and students interested in broadening their knowledge of methods and applications in environmental studies will find this book to be a valuable resource. It will also be of great use to practitioners in environmental agencies looking to gain an insight into particular research methods.
Unique features include:
• in-depth presentation of methods and applications in environmental studies
• diverse examples of research methods complemented by a wide geographic and thematic range of applications
• a careful balance between a review of the state of the art in environmental studies and an exploration of new developments in research methods and applications
• strong emphasis on historic, social, and cultural issues together with the life sciences needed to fully assess environmental change
• accessibility to a wide readership.
Academics and students interested in broadening their knowledge of methods and applications in environmental studies will find this book to be a valuable resource. It will also be of great use to practitioners in environmental agencies looking to gain an insight into particular research methods.
Critical Acclaim
‘This Handbook provides a comprehensive guide to the topical and methodological breadth and diversity of the interdisciplinary field of environmental studies. The chapters, each written by leading experts in the field, illustrate cutting-edge quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodologies used in environmental studies research. The Handbook will make an ideal primary or supplemental textbook for graduate research and methods courses. It will also be an excellent resource for environmental studies students, faculty and researchers.’
– Robin Leichenko, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, US
‘Usually a book with a title like this is bought by libraries, used occasionally by desperate researchers seeking a new analysis tool. This book is not like that – although between the covers you will find everything need for such emergencies. Rather this is a walk through magic and mystery of environmental science, from cultural aspects to green economy, virtual water to the latest in gaming. Buy and use it for emergencies by all means, but it’s a great read too!’
– Peter Bridgewater, Centre for Museums and Heritage, The Australian National University
‘An up-to-date collection of methods and applications for analyzing environmental problems ranging from energy return on energy invested to international trade in virtual water and much else. The book will be of both academic and practical value to ecological economists, geographers, and environmental scientists. Highly recommended.’
– Herman Daly, University of Maryland, College Park, US
– Robin Leichenko, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, US
‘Usually a book with a title like this is bought by libraries, used occasionally by desperate researchers seeking a new analysis tool. This book is not like that – although between the covers you will find everything need for such emergencies. Rather this is a walk through magic and mystery of environmental science, from cultural aspects to green economy, virtual water to the latest in gaming. Buy and use it for emergencies by all means, but it’s a great read too!’
– Peter Bridgewater, Centre for Museums and Heritage, The Australian National University
‘An up-to-date collection of methods and applications for analyzing environmental problems ranging from energy return on energy invested to international trade in virtual water and much else. The book will be of both academic and practical value to ecological economists, geographers, and environmental scientists. Highly recommended.’
– Herman Daly, University of Maryland, College Park, US
Contributors
Contributors: L. Alçada-Almeida, P. Antunes, E.B. Barbier, A.M.Bassi, C.R. Binder, R. Boyd, L.K. Campbell, J.J.T. Connolly, C. Court, L.C. Dias, A. Drachen, K. Feng, D.R. Fisher, H. Folmer, H. Ghadimi, B. Gill, S. Gößling-Reisemann, C.A.S. Hall, D. Hardy, C. Hartefeld, K. Hubacek, M.E. Ibarrarán, R. Jackson, H.W. Kua, S. Locke, M. Olazabal, M. Paolisso, M. Patterson, M. Popp, D. Reckien, M. Ruth, R. Santos, R. Schoell, J. Schubert, L. Shi, S. Silva, H. Smith, K. Stave, E.S. Svendsen, C. Taiapa, D.S.K. Thomas, P. Von Mouche, N. Videira, J. Zhu, T. Zimmermann
Contents
Contents:
PART I: UNDERSTANDING AND SHAPING THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
1. An Introduction to Methods and Applications in Environmental Studies
Matthias Ruth
2. Public Meanings of Science and the Environment
Simon Locke
3. Cross-Cultural Environmental Research Processes, Principles and Methods – Coastal Examples from Aotearoa/New Zealand
Derrylea Hardy, Murray Patterson, Huhana Smith and Caine Taiapa
4. Understanding Culture and Environment Dynamics Using Cultural Consensus Analysis
Michael Paolisso
5. Mixed Methods Analysis of Urban Environmental Stewardship Networks
James J.T. Connolly, Erika S. Svendsen, Dana R. Fisher and Lindsay K. Campbell
6. The Structured Mental Model Approach
Claudia R. Binder, Regina Schoell and Monika Popp
7. Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping: Applications to Urban Environmental Decision-making
Marta Olazabal and Diana Reckien
8. Action Research for Coherently Integrated Sustainability Policy Design and Implementation
Harn Wei Kua
PART II: MODELING RESOURCE USE, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE PROVISION, PRODUCTION AND EMISSIONS IN THEORY AND PRACTICE
9. Energy Return on Investment (EROI) and its Implications for Long-term Prosperity
Charles A.S. Hall
10. A Multi-region Input-output Analysis of Global Virtual Water Flows
Kuishuang Feng and Klaus Hubacek
11. Dynamic Product-centric MFA
Till Zimmermann and Stefan Gößling-Reisemann
12. Network Analysis of Industrial Ecosystems
Junming Zhu and Lei Shi
13. Linking Environmental and Economic Frameworks to Model Technology Transitions
Randall Jackson, Christa Court and Hodjat Gahdimi
14. System Dynamics for Environmental Application
Krystyna Stave
15. Using Participatory System Dynamics in Environmental and Sustainability Dialogues
Paula Antunes, Krystyna Stave, Nuno Videira and Rui Santos
16. Analyzing Green Growth: Integrating Models to Assess Green Economy: Methods and Application to Mexico
María Eugenia Ibarrarán, Andrea M. Bassi and Roy Boyd
17. Valuing Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems for Storm Protection
Edward B. Barbier
18. Are Cities Really Smart? The Environmental Impact of Urban and Rural Municipalities According to Different Methodological Perspectives
Johannes Schubert and Bernhard Gill
19. Vulnerability Assessments
Deborah S.K.Thomas
20. Multi-criteria Environmental Performance Assessment with an Additive Model
Luís C. Dias , Sandra Silva and Luís Alçada-Almeida
21. Gaming on Environmental Issues
Casper Harteveld and Anders Drachen
22. Nash Equilibria of Transboundary Pollution Games
Henk Folmer and Pierre van Mouche
Index
PART I: UNDERSTANDING AND SHAPING THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
1. An Introduction to Methods and Applications in Environmental Studies
Matthias Ruth
2. Public Meanings of Science and the Environment
Simon Locke
3. Cross-Cultural Environmental Research Processes, Principles and Methods – Coastal Examples from Aotearoa/New Zealand
Derrylea Hardy, Murray Patterson, Huhana Smith and Caine Taiapa
4. Understanding Culture and Environment Dynamics Using Cultural Consensus Analysis
Michael Paolisso
5. Mixed Methods Analysis of Urban Environmental Stewardship Networks
James J.T. Connolly, Erika S. Svendsen, Dana R. Fisher and Lindsay K. Campbell
6. The Structured Mental Model Approach
Claudia R. Binder, Regina Schoell and Monika Popp
7. Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping: Applications to Urban Environmental Decision-making
Marta Olazabal and Diana Reckien
8. Action Research for Coherently Integrated Sustainability Policy Design and Implementation
Harn Wei Kua
PART II: MODELING RESOURCE USE, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE PROVISION, PRODUCTION AND EMISSIONS IN THEORY AND PRACTICE
9. Energy Return on Investment (EROI) and its Implications for Long-term Prosperity
Charles A.S. Hall
10. A Multi-region Input-output Analysis of Global Virtual Water Flows
Kuishuang Feng and Klaus Hubacek
11. Dynamic Product-centric MFA
Till Zimmermann and Stefan Gößling-Reisemann
12. Network Analysis of Industrial Ecosystems
Junming Zhu and Lei Shi
13. Linking Environmental and Economic Frameworks to Model Technology Transitions
Randall Jackson, Christa Court and Hodjat Gahdimi
14. System Dynamics for Environmental Application
Krystyna Stave
15. Using Participatory System Dynamics in Environmental and Sustainability Dialogues
Paula Antunes, Krystyna Stave, Nuno Videira and Rui Santos
16. Analyzing Green Growth: Integrating Models to Assess Green Economy: Methods and Application to Mexico
María Eugenia Ibarrarán, Andrea M. Bassi and Roy Boyd
17. Valuing Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems for Storm Protection
Edward B. Barbier
18. Are Cities Really Smart? The Environmental Impact of Urban and Rural Municipalities According to Different Methodological Perspectives
Johannes Schubert and Bernhard Gill
19. Vulnerability Assessments
Deborah S.K.Thomas
20. Multi-criteria Environmental Performance Assessment with an Additive Model
Luís C. Dias , Sandra Silva and Luís Alçada-Almeida
21. Gaming on Environmental Issues
Casper Harteveld and Anders Drachen
22. Nash Equilibria of Transboundary Pollution Games
Henk Folmer and Pierre van Mouche
Index
