What do you mean by that? An analysis of the use of language to measure trust development on the west coast Vancouver Island Aquatic Management Board

Trust contributes in multiple ways to the success of collaborative initiatives through, for example, facilitating open communication, helping parties form common objectives, and encouraging development of a common identity. In this study, I create an analytical framework for identifying expressions of trust in language, and tracking trust development. I link 12 types of trust to antecedents or “elements” of trust, to criteria or “foundations” that individuals use to assess another’s trustworthiness, and to phases of trust development. Through coding language for types of trust, one can discern the phase of trust development reached. By understanding the bases of trust, and how they are expressed in language, parties can better address the issues preventing trust development or foster further trust development. I test this framework on the West Coast Vancouver Island Aquatic Management Board, a 16-member, multi-party, collaborative management board, which underwent a pilot phase during the years 2002 – 2005.