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Brian Johnson dissertation.pdf (1.64 MB)

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Can Education Improve the Environment? Applying the Pressure-State-Response Environmental Indicator Framework to Environmental Education Program Outcomes

Johnson, Brian
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1375367966

Abstract Details

2013, Ph.D., Antioch University, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the ways in which environmental education (EE) programs are contributing to environmental quality (EQ) improvement. The research applied the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) environmental indicator framework to the reported outcomes of 103 EE programs in order to 1) determine the extent to which existing EE programs are reporting EQ improvement outcomes; and 2) examine the extent to which these programs are impacting indicators in the three areas of the PSR framework. The study consisted of three research phases: evaluation synthesis, semi-structured interviews, and multiple-case study. The study found that 42 of 103 programs (41%) in the study's sample reported one or more outcomes that could be considered an EQ improvement based on the PSR framework. Of the 91 instances of EQ-related outcomes reported by the 42 EE programs, 75 (82%) were categorized as response outcomes, 13 (14%) as pressure outcomes, and three (3%) as state outcomes. Another finding of this study was that EE practitioners said that EE can and should improve EQ. Barriers to EQ evaluation of EE programs, as cited by EE practitioners, included the scale of EQ issues versus the scale of EE programs; a lack of evaluation tools and understanding; and limited time and money for evaluation. Finally, the findings suggest that factors that may promote EQ improvement outcomes of EE programs include real-world application of learning; strong partnerships; and a commitment to environmental change. The electronic version of this dissertation is available in the open-access Ohiolink ETD Center, www.ohiolink.edu/etd.
Elizabeth McCann, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
James Gruber, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Marianne Krasny, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
297 p.
Education; Educational Evaluation; Environmental Education; Environmental Studies; Natural Resource Management; Sustainability; Teaching
Environmental Education; Environmental Quality; Environmental Indicators; Pressure-State-Response; Evaluation; Environmental Actions; Evaluation Synthesis; Semi-structured Interviews; Multiple-case Study

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Johnson, B. (2013). Can Education Improve the Environment? Applying the Pressure-State-Response Environmental Indicator Framework to Environmental Education Program Outcomes [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1375367966

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Johnson, Brian. Can Education Improve the Environment? Applying the Pressure-State-Response Environmental Indicator Framework to Environmental Education Program Outcomes . 2013. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1375367966.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Johnson, Brian. "Can Education Improve the Environment? Applying the Pressure-State-Response Environmental Indicator Framework to Environmental Education Program Outcomes ." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1375367966

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

antioch1375367966
801
© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Antioch University and OhioLINK.