Abstract
The NEP (New Ecological Paradigm) scale is an internationally used measure of environmental attitudes and a predictor of pro-ecological behaviours (Dunlap, Van Liere, Merting, & Jones, 2000). In the current study we investigate the factor structure of the scale in order to state if it fits the theoretical model concerning the Polish population. We use the GEB (General Ecological Behaviour) scale as a test of the convergent validity of NEP scale results. The online study made use of a convenience sample of people aged 17–68 years, N = 305. Our study revealed that the theoretical concept of the NEP scale, including its five-factorial solution proposed by the authors of the scale, does not fit our results. After having conducted the exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) we found a two-factorial structure to be more appropriate, but the newly revealed solution was still not completely satisfactory according to the obtained psychometric parameters. Convergent validity of NEP was confirmed. However, socio-demographic characteristics of participants in the study were not related to the frequency of pro-ecological behaviours in general.
Highlights
Our study revealed that the theoretical concept of the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale, including its five-factorial solution proposed by the authors of the scale, does not fit our results
After having conducted the exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) we found a two-factorial structure to be more appropriate, but the newly revealed solution was still not completely satisfactory according to the obtained psychometric parameters
In order to check whether the structure of the NEP Scale proposed by its original authors had five facets or dimensions, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)
Summary
Because the NEP scale is widely and internationally used by many researchers to meas‐ ure attitudes towards the environment (Amburgey & Thoman, 2012; Dunlap et al, 2000; Lalonde & Jackson, 2002), we wanted to investigate its structure in a Polish sample as well as attempt to introduce an official translation of the scale to Polish. The scale is not very popular among Polish researchers When it is used it is translated each time, result‐ ing in various parallel but not necessarily consistent versions of the scale. There is a considerable need for an official Polish translation and Polish validation of the scale, including a structural analysis, the results of which could inform those willing to use it in future research. There is currently no monographic Polish study of the scale’s statistical properties
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