Environmentalism at ElonWho cares and why?

How to promote student involvementBy: Kristin Schulz

Background

My personal interest and pilot study

Observations at Elon The 2008 Survey Institutional Values Hope for a legacy

Methodology

Random Sampling Obtaining Participants Interviews

› The question guide Atlas.Ti

Previous Research & Theories

UC Santa Barbara Symbolic Interactionism

› Elon as a ‘Microsystem’

New Ecological Paradigm

Value-Belief-Norm Theory

New Ecological Paradigm

Humans interdependent with global ecosystem

Impacted by the cause, effect, and feedback loops of ecosystems.

Earth has a finite level of natural resources and waste repositories. Thus, the biophysical environment can impose restraints on human activity.

Value-Belief-Norm Model

Big Questions

Q: What fosters and hinders environmental sympathy among Elon students?

A: Heightened awareness of the issues and feeling personally connected to nature.

Q: So, what causes Elon students to actually engage in Environmentally Responsible Behavior?

A: Ease of doing so (awareness of practice options, habit, infrastructure), feeling it will benefit them personally, and belief that their participation is significant.

Major Findings

1. “Environmental

issues are real,

serious.”

“ It’s a very urgent issue because the environment won’t be able to continue to sustain itself… So I think this is the biggest thing people should focus on right now .”

– sophomore female (ENS major)

“I definitely think global warming is a real thing. I don’t really know a lot about it but I heard something that if the temperature raises by just a couple degrees then catastrophic things will start happening.” - first year female (INT studies)

“We do impact the environment and we need to do our part to keep the environment clean because if we don’t then it’s just going to go to shambles”

- Junior male (MTH & PSY)

2. People should do something

3. “I’d love to play a part, but I don’t know what to do…”

“I’m curious to find out what’s happening and what more I can do personally because I know they’re (Elon is) doing a lot of things, but what are the things we can do individually other than just recycle?”

- first year female

4. “It doesn’t really affect me, so why bother?”

“I care about the world… but I’ve got a lot on my plate, so I don’t have time to give a shit about recycling. Obviously stuff is being done about it so it’s just not my role right now... Honestly, I’m going to say anything that affects my mental health and monetary status I will act upon and nothing else.”

- senior female (COM)

5. No guarantee of sustained habits.

“If it’s really inconvenient then I won’t go out of my way because it just takes so much time. It’s nice that they make it simple and convenient here.”

- first year female (INT Studies)

Knowledge/Awareness = Increased Value

“I’m definitely more concerned now than I was in the past. As I become more aware I have a different take on environmentalists. At first I thought they were wasting their time but now I appreciate what they’re doing because they’re helping everybody. Because we all live here we should all take part of it and do something.”

-First Year Female

Belief about behavior outcome

Evaluating expected outcomes

Normative Beliefs

Motivation to comply

Attitude towards action

Subjective Norms

Behavioral

Intention

BEHAVIORSomething’s missing

here!

What now? Goals

1. Continue to build issue awareness

2. Expand ease and amount of environmentally-friendly options

3. Foster personal motivation

4. Facilitate understanding of impact of personal actions

Strategies

1. Integrate Environmental Values into Elon Experience

2. Environmentally Focused Cultural Capital Opportunities

3. Increased visibility and access to Environmentally Friendly Options

Environmental Stewardship

Summary

More than an individual legacy…

A Call to Action: help students become personally invested in environmental efforts

Reason to be optimistic

Comments & Questions