Investigating the Influence of Ethical and Epistemic Values on Decisions in the Watershed Modeling Process
Open Access
Author:
Deitrick, Autumn
Area of Honors:
Civil Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Caitlin A Grady, Thesis Supervisor Jay Regan, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Watershed modeling process Values-informed mental models Chesapeake Bay Watershed Ethical and epistemic values Decision making
Abstract:
Throughout the watershed modeling process, modelers, collaborators, and stakeholders exchange ideas and perspectives to study various challenges that impact watersheds. To understand these decisions, we investigated values held by modelers who have worked or collaborated on models within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Using a mixed-methodological approach we investigated these complexities through an online survey and semi-structured interviews. In total, we received twenty-seven survey responses from Chesapeake Bay Watershed modelers that we could analyze. We also conducted four interviews with modelers. The results indicate that ethical and epistemic values impact every stage of the watershed modeling process. These values occur alongside decisions, motivations, outcomes, and objectives that often involve collaborators and stakeholders in addition to the modelers. Therefore, including these values in scientific discourse can allow for modeling results to better guide management and policy decision making processes. Our results articulate that a discussion of the ethical and epistemic values present throughout the watershed modeling process should be incorporated into model documentation in order to enhance the explanation of assumptions and decisions.
