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Assessing Relationships between Social Context, Knowledge and Student Perspective in a College Course on Environmental Science

Mathis, Michael C
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1493329571161738

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science, University of Toledo, Biology (Ecology).
Environmental perspectives influence how people view the world and so evaluating the influence of knowledge and social context on perspectives may lead to more effective environmental education. I assessed the influence of social context and knowledge on the perspectives of college students by utilizing the New Ecological Paradigm Survey in a University environmental science course. Over four semesters and two years, students completed 1030 paired NEP surveys at the start and end of the course. An overall significant change in score was identified due to the course. Significant relationships also existed between change in NEP and initial score, college of study, and course attendance, suggesting an influence of social context on perspective. Although few studies have identified overall significant influences on perspective due to a course, no study has used course grades as a representation of knowledge to evaluate the influence of knowledge on perspective. No relationship was found between change in NEP and any course achievement or service learning, suggesting no connection between course content and perspective. Additional analysis found possible contradictions in ecocentric and anthropocentric question responses as shown by differences in mean scores greater than could be explained by question phrasing or confidence intervals. Contradictions may exist because of the conflicting influence of social context and knowledge. Thus, social context may be a more important factor influencing perspective than knowledge, consistent with explanations for many of the partisan divides on scientific issues such as climate change.
Daryl Moorhead (Committee Chair)
Michael Weintraub (Committee Member)
Christine Mayer (Committee Member)
35 p.
Climate Change; Environmental Education; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Science Education; Sustainability
New Ecological Paradigm Survey; Environmental Perspectives; Social Context; Climate Change Denial; College Course; Knowledge; Contradictions in Perspective; Service Learning; NEP; College Students; NEP and Knowledge; NEP and Achievement;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mathis, M. C. (2017). Assessing Relationships between Social Context, Knowledge and Student Perspective in a College Course on Environmental Science [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1493329571161738

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mathis, Michael. Assessing Relationships between Social Context, Knowledge and Student Perspective in a College Course on Environmental Science . 2017. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1493329571161738.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mathis, Michael. "Assessing Relationships between Social Context, Knowledge and Student Perspective in a College Course on Environmental Science ." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1493329571161738

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1493329571161738
296
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.