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Research
Project The following is part of a research project. I am a graduate student in Marriage and Family Therapy at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. My primary area of interest in research is Ecopsychology, which is the study of how the environment impacts mental health. Research has shown that natural environments such as the woods, gardens, parks, etc. have many benefits, including stress reduction, heightened awareness, and increased immune system functioning. Communities known as 'ecovillages' or 'sustainable communities' often incorporate nature into their design. Marriage and Family Therapy uses a systems paradigm. One of the theories of this paradigm is a process called Second Order Change. In layman's terms, Second Order Change simply means having a life-changing experience that allows you to see yourself and the world in a new way. Such experiences enhance life by increasing adaptability and flexibility to life's changing circumstances. The research hypothesis for this study is that Sustainable Communities offer a less stressful living environment, closer to nature, and that such living environments can increase the occurrence of Second Order Change. Prior research has suggested that experiences with nature can help to facilitate Second Order Change, but to date no study has examined the impact of Sustainable Communities on facilitating Second Order Change. This study will attempt to examine this link. This is a web-based survey. Participant names will not be gathered. Surveys will be identified with a code number. Some demographic data will be gathered for purposes of analysis. Participants are allowed to discontinue the survey at any time by clicking the 'back' button on your web browser or by closing the window. If you do so, your data will not be saved. In order to participate in the survey and save your data, you must click the 'submit' button at the bottom of the survey page. There will be no compensation for the study, but your participation will advance the study of the benefits of planned sustainable communities. There are no identified health risks in participating in the study. The purpose of the research is to determine the effect of life in Sustainable Communities on Second Order Change. If the research hypothesis is supported, it could indicate a need for public education regarding the benefits of living in planned Sustainable Communities. If you would like to participate in the study, please continue to the next page. NEXT>> |