Assistant Professor

Ana Margarida Moura de Oliveira Arroz

I received a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Azores in 2005 and I am currently working in the Island Environmental Risks and Society (IERS) of cE3c. I am a professor of Health and Environmental Psychology at the University of Azores. My research focuses on Social and Environmental Psychology, specifically on children's and adult's perspectives of the environment, risk behaviour, risk perception, and risk communication. The most recent projects include comprehensive studies on public risk perceptions of seismic and volcanic phenomena, termite plagues, global change, obesity and children’s perspectives of the environment.

For many years I have been involved in risk research, aiming to promote an efficient communication and meaningful negotiation among stakeholders involved in risk situations.

I currently collaborate with different groups of colleagues, working on a range of topics within risk perception and communication and health psychology, with Isabel Estrela Rego (CVARG, UAC) and Luisa Lima (CIS, ISCTE-IUL). My current research is driven by the following main objectives: i) to understand the motivations of people in relation with nature; ii) to conceive, implement and evaluate communicational devices contingent to people’s representations and resistances concerning biodiversity loss; iii) to evaluate the impacts of urban blue and green infrastructures in wellbeing; iv) to explore empowerment strategies in dealing with urban risks (e.g. termites).

TOPICS FOR GUIDELINES FOR MASTER'S AND DOCTORS DISSERTATIONS WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY That I am available to be a supervisor:

1. COMMUNICATION OF RISK AND URBAN PLAGUES: IMPACTS OF A PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION IN THE AZORES

   Goals:

• evaluate the results and impacts of a risk communication program, developed with 21,500 Azorean homes from the perspective of several stakeholders;
• deduce implications of the results for psychosocial intervention with large groups, developing a digital good practice manual.

Sample: 1500 adults;

Collect data: survey by questionnaire;

Note Data: already existing.

2. ADDICTION TO PLACE AND CONSERVATION OF NATURE

    Goals:

• characterize the representations about the Azores of people with different relations with the place, identifying the role that nature plays in them;
• identify the symbols that represent the Azores, analyzing the arguments that justify their election;
• check if the type of relationship with the place is associated with different representations of the Azores;
• deduce implications of the results for nature conservation and tourism promotion.

Sample: 1000 adults;

Data collection: questionnaire survey;

Data: already existing.

3. CONNECTION WITH NATURE, EXPERIENCE WITH NATURE AND WELL-BEING

   Goals:

• adaptation and validation of a scale of connection with nature for the Portuguese population
• explore relationships between subjective and psychological well-being and living and connecting with nature.

Sample: estimated at 500 adults;

Data collection: questionnaire survey;

Data: will be collected until January 31, 2021.