Meanings and Experiences about a Reservoir and its Surroundings

An interpretative mixed methods study approach was developed to explore how catchment residents understand, experience and give meaning to a reservoir and its surroundings to assist water management. By conceptualizing a reservoir and its surroundings as a social representation, the quantitative study empirically describes catchment residents representations using a word association task as a consultation tool. Individual semi-structured interviews were carried out to elaborate on the results discovered in the survey and to develop an in-depth understanding of residents meanings and underlying experiences about the reservoir and its surroundings. Results indicate that meanings can be grouped into two broad thematic categories: personal and social. The integrative theme of showcase of everyday life stories/memories was identified through the repeated narrative expressions of place experiences in creating enduring memories and nostalgia. The analysis should be especially useful to professionals in Environmental Management and Sociology.

Autorentext

Nuno-Gonçalo Matias was born in Lisbon. He received a M.S. degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of East Anglia, UK, in 2003; and obtained his Ph.D. in Sociology at ISCTE- Lisbon University Institute, Portugal, in 2013. His research interests are primarily in the areas of Sociology of personal life, place meanings, and fatherhood