Social Indicators

The Region 5 multi-state Social Indicator Team began in Spring 2005 with support from the region's state water quality agencies, USEPA, and the Great Lakes Regional Water Program. The team developed and is testing a set of social indicators with pilot projects across the region using the Social Indicators for Planning and Evaluation System (SIPES). The system is described in the handbook provided through the link below. We also provide sample survey questionnaires used for SIPES and links to articles describing the system.

SIDMA
Follow this link for access to the Social Indicators Data Management and Analysis (SIDMA) tool, hosted by Michigan State University, Institute of Water Research: http://www.iwr.msu.edu/sidma/

Publications

The SIPES Handbook, 3rd edition, December, 2011 (5.5 MB pdf)

Sample survey questionnaire for agricultural audience (464 Kb pdf)

Sample survey questionnaire for urban audience (1.08 Mb pdf)

Genskow, K. and Linda Stalker Prokopy. 2010. "Lessons Learned in Developing Social Indicators for Regional Water Quality Management" in Society and Natural Resources Vol. 23, Issue 1, Pages 83-91. http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a917377039~db=all

Prokopy, L., K. Genskow, et al. 2009. Designing a regional system of social indicators to evaluate nonpoint source water projects. Journal of Extension 47(2): Feature Article 2FEA1. http://www.joe.org/joe/2009april/a1.php

Project Timeline

1. Region 5 multi-state Social Indicator Team established (Spring 2005)
• Team Contacts
2. Participatory process for social indicator selection – workshops held and stakeholders surveyed in each state for user input (Fall 2005 –spring 2006)
• Survey Results (1.2 Mb pdf)
• Survey Summary (77 Kb pdf)
3. Core set of social indicators for NPS management and evaluation developed (summer 2006 )
• Core social indicators (49 Kb pdf)
4. Draft guidance document for using social indicators in NPS management (early 2007)
• The draft document was circulated among NPS programs within Region 5 as well as external reviewers. Feedback led to important project adjustments.
5. Select pilots and begin testing social indicator system for NPS evaluation 2007-2011)
• Pilot projects are occurring in each state in order to test the accuracy and usability of the core indicators, as well as provide opportunities to develop other methods and supplemental indicators for measuring the social component of the NPS management
6. Testing and application of the on-line Social Indicators Data Management and Analysis (SIDMA) tool (April 2008)
• Pilot projects will be able to access the SIDMA website here when the model is completed.
7. Develop and assess multiple tools for evaluating the social component of NPS programs at project, state and regional levels. (2008-2010 )
• Development of these tools will be ongoing. Below is the current list for planning and assessment of the social component of NPS management
• The SIPES Handbook, version 2.1, January, 2010 (1.7 Mb pdf)
• Complementary and alternative methods
8. Develop supplemental social indicators (2007-2010)
• Supplemental indicators that can be used with core indicators will be developed throughout the pilot projects phase.
• Supplemental indicators will be linked here as they are developed.
9. Full and revised version of the social indicators system complete (2011)
• Final Handbook for using the social indicators system (under development)
• SIDMA website
10. Provide a means of support for use of social indicators beyond the pilot phase (2011)
• Discussions between State NPS programs, USEPA Region 5, and the regional social indicators team will determine the nature and extent of ongoing support for the socialindicators system.

Complementary Planning and Evaluation Resources

Below are resources for watershed planning and evaluation that provide complementary approaches to assessing the social component of NPS management.

Planning

• Identifying your target audience
• Social Assessment: For examples of broad social data applied to NPS assessment and evaluation, please visit the LaMoine report (846 Kb pdf) and the Vermillion report (1.18 Mb pdf).

Evaluating Activities

• Evaluating workshops (115 Kb pdf)
• Evaluating newsletters (222 Kb pdf)