Pacific Northwest Research Station

Publication Information

Title: A comparison of a technical and a participatory application of social impact assessment.

Author: Becker, Dennis R; Harris, Charles C; Nielsen, Erik A; McLaughlin, William J.

Date: 2004

Source: Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. 22(3): 177-189

Description: Results of independent applications of a technical and a participatory approach to SIA are compared for an assessment of impacts of the proposed removal of hydroelectric dams to recover threatened and endangered salmon in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The analysis focuses on empirical differences and similarities between the technical social analysis report (SAR) and the participatory interactive community forum (IC19 in terms of indicators used, projection of impacts, and types of social impacts identified in two communilies. The SAR used a more homogeneous set of social structures and indicators to make expertbased projections. The ICF did not limit indicators to those aggregated across the region, but revealed residents' perceptions of impacts to their communities. A combination of the two approaches would provide robust findings of social impacts.

Key Words: SIA, technical, participatory, social indicators, impact projection, EIS

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Citation

Becker, Dennis R; Harris, Charles C; Nielsen, Erik A; McLaughlin, William J.  2004.  A comparison of a technical and a participatory application of social impact assessment.  Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. 22(3): 177-189.