TRUST IN NATURAL-RESOURCE INFORMATION-SOURCES AND POSTMATERIALIST VALUES - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF UNITED-STATES AND CANADIAN CITIZENS IN THE GREAT-LAKES AREA

This study examines the relationship between postmaterialist value ori entations and trust in natural resource information sources among Cana dian and U.S. citizens. The data stem from mail surveys collected amon g residents in metropolitan areas on the Great Lakes. Findings suggest that individuals with postmaterialist value orientations are signific antly less trusting of traditional sources of natural resource informa tion (e.g., government and private industry) than are their compatriot s with materialist value orientations. In addition, Canadians are foun d to be generally more trusting of government information sources and less trusting of private information sources than are their American c ounterparts. Thus, the trust accorded an information source depends on the source itself, the value orientation of the individual according that trust, and the political culture of the country in which the info rmation source and the individual are found.