Climate Change Attitudes and Pro-Environmental Behavior of Czech Teenagers

ČINČERA, Jan and Roman KROUFEK. Climate Change Attitudes and Pro-Environmental Behavior of Czech Teenagers. In SFE² GfÖ EEF - Joint meeting, International Conference on Ecological Sciences. 2022.

Basic information

• Original name: Climate Change Attitudes and Pro-Environmental Behavior of Czech Teenagers
• Name (in English): Climate Change Attitudes and Pro-Environmental Behavior of Czech Teenagers
• Authors: ČINČERA, Jan and Roman KROUFEK.
• Edition: SFE² GfÖ EEF - Joint meeting, International Conference on Ecological Sciences, 2022.

Other information

• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Organization unit: Faculty of Social Studies
• Keywords in English: climate change education; environmental education; responsible environmental behavior
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Since generations thousands of teachers of conventional classrooms and educators of informal outreach facilities invested tremendous efforts into educational initiatives to improve environmental attitudes and behaviours of students. When analysing adolescent conceptions in relation to Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), responses overlap while statements concerning social and economy contexts contribute to substantial differences in EE and ESD. Under both umbrellas, outreach experience allows kids and adolescents to value nature and environment – and after frequent experience to understand the science behind ecosystems and related dilemmas which we face currently and which we need to cope with in the future. While cognitive issues are likewise conventionally to be monitored, variables such as attitudes and values or even behaviour are not. That is why, from the 1970ies to the 1990ies there were many measurement approaches applied, seemingly with more instruments than researchers were working in the field. Most instruments were developed for adult populations that is why the development of the 2-MEV scale (2 Major Environmental Values) for the age-group of adolescents began and on the basis on a solid theoretical foundation defined to measure on the basis of primary factors two higher order factors labelled as values: Preservation (PRE) and Utilization (UTL). The 2-MEV model received a quite new promotion when further independent research teams also repeatedly confirmed the two factor second order structure. Its increasingly worldwide use allows comparing and fine-tuning programmes of different backgrounds. Up to now several dozen studies were using the scale: Some providers are already satisfied that the measurement basis does not need further defence and numbers are secured. Others present the results on conferences and even invest the effort to publish. The educational efforts must go on to extract essentials out of thousands of programmes applied in the world. The representative study of will cover the high level of climate change attitudes, its prediction potential for pro-environmental behavior, the role of preservational or utilitarian preferences and factual knowledge.

Abstract (in English)

Since generations thousands of teachers of conventional classrooms and educators of informal outreach facilities invested tremendous efforts into educational initiatives to improve environmental attitudes and behaviours of students. When analysing adolescent conceptions in relation to Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), responses overlap while statements concerning social and economy contexts contribute to substantial differences in EE and ESD. Under both umbrellas, outreach experience allows kids and adolescents to value nature and environment – and after frequent experience to understand the science behind ecosystems and related dilemmas which we face currently and which we need to cope with in the future. While cognitive issues are likewise conventionally to be monitored, variables such as attitudes and values or even behaviour are not. That is why, from the 1970ies to the 1990ies there were many measurement approaches applied, seemingly with more instruments than researchers were working in the field. Most instruments were developed for adult populations that is why the development of the 2-MEV scale (2 Major Environmental Values) for the age-group of adolescents began and on the basis on a solid theoretical foundation defined to measure on the basis of primary factors two higher order factors labelled as values: Preservation (PRE) and Utilization (UTL). The 2-MEV model received a quite new promotion when further independent research teams also repeatedly confirmed the two factor second order structure. Its increasingly worldwide use allows comparing and fine-tuning programmes of different backgrounds. Up to now several dozen studies were using the scale: Some providers are already satisfied that the measurement basis does not need further defence and numbers are secured. Others present the results on conferences and even invest the effort to publish. The educational efforts must go on to extract essentials out of thousands of programmes applied in the world. The representative study of will cover the high level of climate change attitudes, its prediction potential for pro-environmental behavior, the role of preservational or utilitarian preferences and factual knowledge.

Links

• MUNI/A/1460/2021, interní kód MU: Name: Výzvy udržitelné společnosti optikou humanitních a sociálních věd (Acronym: UDROP)

Investor: Masaryk University