Identifying Indicators of Behavior Change: Insights From Wildfire Education Programs

Abstract

Environmental educators are challenged to document behavior changes, because change rarely depends solely on outcomes of education programs, but on many factors. An analysis of 15 communities in the United States that have increased their preparedness for wildfire allowed us to explore how education programs encouraged individual and community change. Agency-sponsored adult educational programs helped communities change their philosophy about firefighting, pass ordinances that restrict individual property rights, and empower residents to reduce their wildfire risk. This article explores several outcomes of these programs and offers suggested indicators of change that might be useful for education program evaluation.

Keywords:

• adult education
• behavior change
• indicators
• program evaluation
• wildfire

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the U.S. Forest Service's Northern Research Station and the National Fire Plan for providing the original funding that ultimately led to the analysis reported here. Annie Oxarart, Deborah Wojcik, and anonymous reviewers offered helpful comments and keen insights that improved this manuscript.