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.
Highlights
The long history of attempts since the 1970s to measure environmental perceptions produced a plethora of instruments
The 2-MEV post-test scores were subjected to a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) including a subsequent oblique rotation
A similar analysis using the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scores was performed in order to determine the dimensionality of the scale
Summary
The long history of attempts since the 1970s to measure environmental perceptions produced a plethora of instruments. Researchers formulated paradigm messages, for instance, the New Environmental Paradigm [7], the New Ecological Paradigm [8], or the Ecological World View. While the latter covered conservational preferences, the Dominant Social Paradigm (DSP) coined anthropocentric views in highlighting our planet as an unlimited resource for human consumption [9]. The New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale was the first to reach a wide usage in adult populations [7,10]. That approach was designed to measure public acceptance in adult populations by using a unidimensional construct
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