The Role of Oral Histories in the Conduct of Fisheries Social Impact Assessments in Northeast US

In the US and elsewhere, a social impact assessment is required when the government implements regulations affecting the human environment. Because there is no standardized approach for conducting social impact assessments, an array of methods and data types are used. While greater validity is currently given to quantitative data and methods, we argue that the use of focused oral histories provides more timely and in-depth information on current conditions and potential impacts than is otherwise available in the limited time frame in which social impact assessments are often conducted. Further, oral histories provide a contextual framework for understanding quantitative results. Here we discuss the process by which oral histories contribute to the conduct of social impact assessments.

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