Education in Social Impact Assessment and Planning

Abstract

This paper describes the student project that won the 1982 national award from the American Planning Association It begins with the epistemological orientation that places social values at the cornerstone of Social Impact Assessment. The planning project, electrical self-sufficiency in harmony with community values on the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i, is then described. The educational format is discussed as a practicum incorporating the assistance of expert consultants, commu nity residents, and statewide agencies and organizations. The methodological approaches of multidimensional scaling and time series are explained, followed by data analysis and presentation instruction Finally, applications to planning for this community as well as implications for the future of social impact assessment are discussed