Abstract
The Two-dimensional Model of Ecological Values (2-MEV), developed and verified in Western Europe, successfully explores the environmental values and attitudes of the children (11−16 years old) using questionnaires/items. However, the reliability of the 2-MEV Scale and its bi-dimensionality in a non-industrialised country, such as Nepal, is unexplored. Nepal lies within the monsoon region, which triggers extreme environmental crises such as floods. As environmental values and attitudes are related to pro-environmental/adaptive behaviour, this study analyses not only the values and attitudes of children but also the validity of the 2-MEV Scale in a different geographic and socioeconomic setting. Therefore, the items of the 2-MEV Scale were modified, translated, and validated in two rounds with 200 and 201 children. Results were examined using principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, respectively. The findings validated the two constructs of environmental values (Preservation and Utilisation) with a correlation of −0.93, but the attitude’s pattern varied from that found in industrialised countries. Finally, the rural Nepalese version of the 2-MEV was used to measure environmental values. Most children (78.62% from n = 379) show an inclination towards Preservation, 0.26% towards Utilisation, 20.05% towards both values partially, and 1.05% were neutral. In general, the children held pro-environmental values and attitudes.
Highlights
Extreme precipitation and river runoff events, which are common in the southern slopes of the Himalayas, are known to trigger landslides and floods [1,2]
The validated model of 2-MEV in rural Nepal demonstrates that the construct of environmental attitude is bi-dimensional in Nepal, further strengthening the debated bi-dimensional construct of environmental attitude
The study provides additional evidence that by considering the local environment of the study site, the 2-MEV Scale can be used as a standard tool to analyse environmental attitudes globally
Summary
Extreme precipitation and river runoff events, which are common in the southern slopes of the Himalayas, are known to trigger landslides and floods [1,2]. Blaikie [33] uses established item scales, and factor analysed them to come up with seven first-order factors that represent general ecological viewpoints Based on this development, Bogner and colleagues in the late 90s and early 2000s extended the concept of a multi-dimensional view of environmental attitude [19,34,35]. Milfont and Duckitt [37] point out that the bi-dimensionality of environmental attitude might not be as distinct in developing countries as observed because the macrosocial and macro-economic variables can influence the psychological constructs They refer to Corral-Verdugo and Armendáriz’s [41] findings of high covariance between the pro-human exception and the pro-environmental exception in Mexico. Understanding the environmental values of the children of rural Nepal will help to determine how education might proceed regarding environmental concerns
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