Why is it that when a black bear wanders through a neighborhood in southeastern New York, scaring everyone out of their wits, some of those folks are thrilled with the encounter while others want never to experience it again? Why is it that some people accept clear-cutting of forests as a way to sustain forest diversity while others believe clear-cutting destroys the integrity of the forest? Why is it that both governmental management agencies and non-governmental organizations are interested in protecting natural resources, but use very different considerations in deciding what should be done and how? Why is it that some communities seem capable of identifying and achieving resource-related benefits and preventing or mitigating resource-related problems while others cannot? Why is it that some communities have unfounded hopes and dreams for all the good things that might come from restoration of certain species while others have unfounded concerns or maybe ambivalence? My research interests focus squarely on investigating these kinds of questions. Some of these questions may be best examined from the perspective of aggregated individuals, using social science techniques based on belief-attitudinal-behavior relationships (e.g., theory of reasoned action), or enhancing social learning through stakeholder engagement techniques (e.g., adaptive impact management processes). For example, management decisions within any given community could be informed by identifying socially-important impacts to be managed and determining the peopleÕs attitudes toward various intervention alternatives. In different management contexts, the same questions might best be investigated using a community-level approach. For example, mangers might need information about which communities are best suited for engaging in community-based management efforts, and which may need additional help building capacity for that kind of engagement.