Finding quality in quantitative methods: The case of food forestry in the Netherlands

In current nature valuation efforts, sociocultural values are often overlooked. Calls for the importance of including these values often advise to use a mixed‐method approach; however, restrictions concerning budget and time often prevent researchers from doing so. In this study we offer a compromise—a questionnaire that aims to capture sociocultural values of nature as closely as possible. It was created as part of the Dutch National Monitoring Programme Food Forests (Nationaal Monitoringsprogramma Voedselbossen [NMVB]), hence pertaining to food forestry (FF) in the Netherlands. We used three strategies. First, we reviewed literature on nature valuation frameworks to establish the constructs for the questionnaire, finding that the survey needs to be sensitive to a plurality of worldviews. Second, we consulted survey methodology to accommodate for this plurality and to minimize nonresponse and measurement error. Third, we tested the questionnaire extensively. Our final questionnaire combines closed‐ and open‐ended questions to examine sociocultural values from different angles to allow participants to elaborate on previously given answers in their own words and to captivate participants, prompting continued attentiveness. We believe that the questionnaire‐creation process can be inspiring to other researchers. Moreover, we call upon them to use our questionnaire and to continuously evaluate and revise it in the process. Core Ideas Sociocultural values can be incorporated in quantitative nature valuation efforts. It is important to include different frameworks and worldviews in such attempts. A questionnaire can be designed to mimic qualitative approaches to some degree. Extensive testing helps creating better questionnaires. We urge others to use our instrument and evaluate its efficacy in the process.