(e.g. Winchester 1999), the approach used here therefore comprised a face-to-face
survey with local people and tourists on Liuqiu Island, as well as in-depth interviews
with particular stakeholders who are currently or will be potentially affected by
offshore developments.
The first part of the multi-method framework applied to reach a wide range of
participants was a multiple-choice questionnaire. A large-scale survey was used to
give an indicative overview of how the offshore platform is perceived. The central
principle of such quantitative studies on social acceptance is to measure and describe
relationships and correlations among variables and factors that influence people’s
acceptance of offshore developments (Roberts and Boucher 2013). In addition, to be
able to explore the range of perceptions and potential impacts of the platform in
depth, a qualitative interview was used to obtain first-hand information on social
realities as they are constructed and presented by various actors, following the
approaches of Silverman (2004) and Sin (2003). Rather than solely obtaining
structured and quantitative evidence of social acceptance, the qualitative interview
can assist in gaining access to reasons behind the different supportive or opposing
positions towards the proposed offshore platform (Fielding 2007). Such a research
strategy uses people’s detailed accounts as a starting point to make sense of the
meanings and interpretations, the motives and intentions and arguments that people
articulate verbally and that guide and give evidence of their attitudes and behaviour
(Blaikie 2010).
The applied interview approach comprised semi-structured interviews, which
allowed for some flexibility for the interviewer as well as the interviewee (Fielding
2007). Questions for the interviews were prepared prior to the interview and listed in
an interview guide to organise and group themes, issues and questions (May 1997;
Fielding 2007). The interview questions made use of insights from previous research
on factors likely to determine the acceptance of offshore renewables as discussed
above, but also factors relevant to local particularities that may be the object of
impacts and concern for people. The sampling of interviewees drew on the suggestions made by previous research on offshore renewables, but also on the findings of
the preceding survey (May 1997). Relevant stakeholder groups who may be affected
by offshore platforms involve the fishing and shipping community, local leisure
industry, coastal communities, local and regional governments, local businesses and
tourism as well as other marine users.
4.3.2 The Methodology for Assessing the Socioeconomic
Effects of the Platform
4.3.2.1 Valuing Ecosystem Services
A key element in the socioeconomic methodology used in the paper is the valuation
of ecosystem services to study the impacts of multi-use offshore platforms on the
environment and the populations targeted in the TROPOS project. Ecosystem
services are widely understood in the literature as the different benefits that humans
4 Social Acceptance and Socio-economic Effects of Multi-use Offshore. . .
67
survey with local people and tourists on Liuqiu Island, as well as in-depth interviews
with particular stakeholders who are currently or will be potentially affected by
offshore developments.
The first part of the multi-method framework applied to reach a wide range of
participants was a multiple-choice questionnaire. A large-scale survey was used to
give an indicative overview of how the offshore platform is perceived. The central
principle of such quantitative studies on social acceptance is to measure and describe
relationships and correlations among variables and factors that influence people’s
acceptance of offshore developments (Roberts and Boucher 2013). In addition, to be
able to explore the range of perceptions and potential impacts of the platform in
depth, a qualitative interview was used to obtain first-hand information on social
realities as they are constructed and presented by various actors, following the
approaches of Silverman (2004) and Sin (2003). Rather than solely obtaining
structured and quantitative evidence of social acceptance, the qualitative interview
can assist in gaining access to reasons behind the different supportive or opposing
positions towards the proposed offshore platform (Fielding 2007). Such a research
strategy uses people’s detailed accounts as a starting point to make sense of the
meanings and interpretations, the motives and intentions and arguments that people
articulate verbally and that guide and give evidence of their attitudes and behaviour
(Blaikie 2010).
The applied interview approach comprised semi-structured interviews, which
allowed for some flexibility for the interviewer as well as the interviewee (Fielding
2007). Questions for the interviews were prepared prior to the interview and listed in
an interview guide to organise and group themes, issues and questions (May 1997;
Fielding 2007). The interview questions made use of insights from previous research
on factors likely to determine the acceptance of offshore renewables as discussed
above, but also factors relevant to local particularities that may be the object of
impacts and concern for people. The sampling of interviewees drew on the suggestions made by previous research on offshore renewables, but also on the findings of
the preceding survey (May 1997). Relevant stakeholder groups who may be affected
by offshore platforms involve the fishing and shipping community, local leisure
industry, coastal communities, local and regional governments, local businesses and
tourism as well as other marine users.
4.3.2 The Methodology for Assessing the Socioeconomic
Effects of the Platform
4.3.2.1 Valuing Ecosystem Services
A key element in the socioeconomic methodology used in the paper is the valuation
of ecosystem services to study the impacts of multi-use offshore platforms on the
environment and the populations targeted in the TROPOS project. Ecosystem
services are widely understood in the literature as the different benefits that humans
4 Social Acceptance and Socio-economic Effects of Multi-use Offshore. . .
67