Coastal Services Center

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Social Science Methods for Marine Protected Areas

An Overview for MPA Managers and Staff

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This site is designed to help marine protected area (MPA)* managers use social science to accomplish their goals. Specifically, this site provides basic information about social science concepts and methods, and guides managers in determining the apprpriate tools, such as surveys and cost-benefit analyses, to address their specific issues. Managers will learn, too, how to be informed users of social science research.

How to use this site

New to the field of social science?
Review the introduction.

Already familiar with social science?
Visit tools to learn about numerous social science methods.

Exploring which social science methods to use to address an issue?
See research themes to learn which tools work best for various situations.

Want to see how other MPAs are using social science?
Read the case studies.

 

*A marine protected area (MPA) is "any area of the marine environment that has been reserved by Federal, State, territorial, tribal, or local laws or regulations to provide lasting protection for part or all of the natural and cultural resources therein" (Executive Order 13158). MPAs include national marine sanctuaries, fishery management zones, national seashores, national parks, national monuments, critical habitats, national wildlife refuges, national estuarine research reserves, state conservation areas, state reserves, and many others.

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