Arts and Humanities Efforts in the US Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network: Understanding Perceived Values and Challenges - Earth Stewardship: Linking Ecology and Ethics in Theory and Practice - page 250

0% Definitely Disagree

1-19% Strongly Disagree

20-39% Disagree

40-59% Neutral

60-79% Agree

80-99% Strongly agree

100% Definitely agree

Fig. 16.5 Likert conversion of draggable bar response values

Arts and humanities research in LTER sites is valuable because it:

1 Markets the science, is promotional

2 Stimulates collaboration

3 Develops skills of observation and perception

4 Contributes to environmental problem-solving

5 Fosters outreach, public involvement in the site

6 Provides opportunities for education, environmental literacy

7 Plays a role on grants

8 Is good in and of itself

9 Enables interdisciplinary scholarship

10 Broadens our understanding of the natural world

11 Stimulates empathy

12 Enhances our science in important ways

13 Inspires creative thinking

Fig. 16.6 Provided responses for perceived value of arts and humanities research in LTER sites

16.3.3 What Are the Perceived Challenges to Maintaining or

Further Developing Arts and Humanities Inquiry
Across the LTER Network?

In addition to understanding the perceived value of arts and humanities inquiry, we
also wanted to know about perceived challenges. Toward this end, using a draggable
bar question we asked respondents to rank eleven provided challenges that may
impact the integration of arts and humanities inquiry in LTER sites 4 ; we also offered
an Other category for challenges we did not anticipate (Fig. 16.9 ).

4 The list of proposed challenges were determined by the researchers and refi ned during survey
development and pilot testing.