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Research Questions/Objectives:
Brief Description of the Project: Social identity theory suggests that people often categorise themselves in terms of the groups to which they belong – for example, farmer vs non farmer, rural vs urban. This qualitative research is a pilot study aimed at investigating the feasibility and potential outcomes of a larger-scale study on social identity and water conservation behaviour in Australia, based on individual experience with drought.
It is expected that strong identification within an ingroup will lead to feelings of inequity in access to water resources, creating resentment to outgroups and as such influence willingness to support water management practices.
Background and Significance of the Research Question to drought risk, vulnerability, preparedness, or resilience: Drought is a common feature of the Australian landscape and psyche.
This qualitative study will assess the meanings that people give to their experience of drought and access to water resources, to determine which group(s) they identify with in relation to water conservation behaviour.
Social identity theory states that people will determine membership of certain groups based on their personal experience and self-esteem. This study aims to assess themes of favouritism, segregation, and denigration based on what group(s) people identify with (for example, farmer or non-farmer), and how this may influence the perception of fairness and equity in accessing water resources during drought.
Participants will be recruited from a regional Australian community that has been affected by drought and water use regulation in the recent past. Participants will be invited to discuss their experiences for the purpose of data collection and analysis.
It is hoped that identifying patterns of meaning from these experiences will assist in the development of a much larger study to assess how concepts of social identity can be used in the development of future water conservation measures, and how this in turn may better prepare Australians for future drought events.
Academic and research experience relevant to the honours project: My previous academic and research experience in social identity concepts began as an undergraduate studying socio-cultural anthropology and political science at the University of Adelaide, where I was conferred a Bachelor of Arts being in 2002. A Bachelor of Laws was further completed and conferred in 2005.
In 2020, I undertook an intensive mode of study to achieve an Undergraduate Certificate in Psychology with Curtin University, and was thereafter accepted into the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Bridging) degree with James Cook University, beginning January 2021. The GDPSY(B) was conferred with distinction in August 2022. I received an early offer from James Cook University to complete their Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)(End on) program in 2023, which I accepted. I am currently studying full-time, externally.
Undertaking the Honours program with James Cook University will be the first time I engage in the planning, research and writing of an Honours thesis. However, I have extensive academic and research experience as a result of having successfully completed a number of university degrees, including a GDPSY(B) with distinction. I am keen to further develop and polish my academic research and writing skills as I prepare to engage in further postgraduate research and study in future.
Principal Supervisor’s skills and experience in relation to this project topic: Dr Connar McShane’s expertise draws on theoretical and conceptual understandings from health, social and environmental psychology. These understandings are used to identify the factors that influence peoples’ capacity to face challenges and adapt to change in agricultural and regional communities. Dr McShane’s research particularly focuses on how perceptions of risk or threat, perceived efficacy of target behaviour, and bonds to people and place influence decisionmaking and behaviour change. Examples of research applications include increasing adoption of preparatory behaviours to mitigate impacts of extreme weather events, including drought experiences and water conservation; and how the interaction between trust, social bonds, and efficacy influence farmer decisionmaking in the adoption of new technologies or systems.
Dr McShane’s methodological expertise includes qualitative research that applies a phenomenological lens and framework. Dr McShane’s has expertise in applying thematic analysis.
Drought in Australia is a recurring and deeply ingrained feature of the landscape and the national psyche. The country has rarely been without a drought for more than eleven years at a time, can strike any region, and can last from a few months to over a decade. The Millennium Drought of the 2000s was a lengthy, severe drought that affected most of the country, and resulted in water restrictions, including in the major cities.
To better understand how people perceive their access to water resources during drought and how it influences their water conservation behaviour, the author embarked on a qualitative research project as part of the fourth year Honours program in Psychology at James Cook University, under the supervision of Dr Connar McShane.
This study was approached through the lens of Tajfel and Turner’s Social Identity Theory, which explores how people categorise themselves into groups and form in-group and out-group distinctions. Eight participants from rural and regional Australia took part in the study. All participants had experienced the Millennium Drought as adults. The data collection involved semi-structured, conversational interviews, which were conducted either in person or online. The data analysis process used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to reveal three overarching themes within the data: “Them and Us,” “They Don’t Listen to Us,” and “You Choose Different.”
The first theme, “Them and Us,” reflects group identification during drought and water restrictions. Participants expressed resentment toward those with seemingly greater access to water resources, highlighting disparities in behaviours like flood irrigation and even the cityscape features of green medium strips and planter boxes.
The second theme, “They Don’t Listen to Us,” delves into the participants’ perceptions of government responsibility and strategies for equitable water access. Many felt their regions were neglected compared to cities like Melbourne and Adelaide, which had desalination plants. Participants also discussed the belief that some areas should do more to harvest rainwater to alleviate water shortages.
The third theme, “You Choose Different,” focused on how participants engaged with their communities to prepare for and respond to drought. Many emphasised rainwater and stormwater harvesting as a common practice to mitigate the effects of dry spells. Participants also expressed the need for initiatives and programs to motivate proactive water conservation measures, including subsidies, urban planning, and education for people living in urbanised areas.
These themes reveal that rural and regional Australians perceive disparities in water resource access during drought. They feel policies made by urban-based bureaucrats are applied to their regions without adequate consultation, creating an almost unbridgeable gap. In response, rural and regional communities have embraced a new social identity centred around water conservation, recycling, and water-wise gardening.
The findings underscore the importance of acknowledging and addressing perceived disparities in access to water resources during drought. By learning from the practices and attitudes of rural and regional communities, Australia can work toward greater water security and more equitable policies that consider the unique needs of different regions.
In 2023, Sarah Cassells undertook a research project as part of her Honours degree in psychology with James Cook University. This research explored the way social identity influences water conservation behaviour in Australia during periods of drought.
Eight participants from rural and regional parts of the country completed in-depth, semi-structured interviews, which were then analysed using a thematic approach called Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. This process provided Sarah with valuable insights into some of the problematic aspects of existing strategies when it comes to preparing for drought, particularly in relation to water resources and restrictions.
The research indicates that social identity does in fact play a role in the success of water management practices during periods of drought in Australia. Most notable were the perceptions of inequity when it comes to accessing water resources, working with decision-makers, and how the major Australian cities might improve on their existing water practices.
The practical implications of these findings are highlighted below.
For organisations and decision-makers working with rural and regional communities in relation to drought preparedness and water conservation, practical implication include:
For individuals looking to prepare themselves for future drought events, this research provided seven lessons in drought preparedness as shared by rural and regional Australians. These are:
