Measuring Environmental Perceptions Grounded on Different Theoretical Models: The 2-Major Environmental Values (2-MEV) Model in Comparison with the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale

Constantinos C. Manoli, Bruce Johnson, Sanlyn Buxner and Franz Bogner
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Constantinos C. Manoli: College of Education, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Bruce Johnson: College of Education, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Sanlyn Buxner: Department of Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Franz Bogner: Z-MNU (Centre of Math & Science Education), Department of Biology Education, University of Bayreuth, D-95477 Bayreuth, Germany

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Our study examined the two-dimensional nature of the Two Major Environmental Values model (2-MEV) in comparison with the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale’s unidimensional construct. The latter places respondents on a continuum from a bio-centric to anthropocentric worldview, where an individual can either have a pro-environmental (bio-centric) or an anti-environmental (anthropocentric) perspective, but not both. On the other hand, the 2-MEV treats biocentrism (Preservation, PRE) and anthropocentrism (Utilization, UTL) as two separate and not necessarily related components. The model allows us to place individuals into one of four quadrants, rather than on either end of a continuum, allowing an individual to have a bio-centric and an anthropocentric worldview at the same time. Students’ environmental perceptions were measured using the NEP and 2-MEV questionnaires. As predicted, high preservation/low utilization scorers preferred a biocentric worldview on the NEP; similarly, low preservation/high utilization scorers preferred an anthropocentric worldview on the NEP. However, the NEP failed to differentiate between the high preservation/high utilization and low preservation/low utilizations scorers. Both of these groups of students, while on different quadrants on the 2-MEV, cluster together in the middle of the unidimensional NEP. Evidence suggests that the NEP may not fully explore all dimensions of environmental perceptions.

Keywords: environmental perceptions; worldviews; 2-MEV; NEP; earth education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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