THE HUMAN ELEMENT LAB
EXPLORE THE HUMAN ELEMENT
If your goal is conservation, start with people.
T.H.E. Lab views natural resources management and conservation through the lens of human behavior and social process. We produce actionable research from rigorous psychological, sociological, and behavioral sciences inquiry that uses quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods to explore the nature of and reasons for environmentally-significant behavior. We contribute to management and conservation via insights into behavioral trends, social processes, and socio-ecological patterns.
Kenneth E. Wallen, PhD
Associate Professor
University of Idaho
Department of Natural Resources and Society
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
CONCEPTUAL
APPROACH
Theory is essential to explore the relationships between society and natural resources.
We use norms, rules, and institutions as central concepts and cognitive, structural, technological, and procedural as central frames.
APPLIED
APPROACH
Principles from psychology, sociology, and the behavioral sciences in real-world contexts.
We collaborate with partners like IDFG and PAG to draw on expertise to investigate behavioral trends and social processes.
ACTIONABLE
APPROACH
Problem-oriented questions are useful and relevant to governments, organizations, and publics.
We intend our work to influence individual, public, and private sector actions, decisions, and policies via rigorous empirical research.