The 2-MEV model: Constancy of adolescent environmental values within an 8-year time frame

Abstract

The 2-MEV model is a widely used tool to monitor children's environmental perception by scoring individual values. Although the scale's validity has been confirmed repeatedly and independently as well as the scale is in usage within more than two dozen language units all over the world, longitudinal properties still need clarification. The purpose of the present study therefore was to validate the 2-MEV scale based on a large data basis of 10,676 children collected over an eight-year period. Cohorts of three different US states contributed to the sample by responding to a paper-and-pencil questionnaire within their pre-test initiatives in the context of field center programs. Since we used only the pre-program 2-MEV scale results (which is before participation in education programs), the data were clearly unspoiled by any follow-up interventions. The purpose of analysis was fourfold: First, to test and confirm the hypothesized factorized structure for the large data set and for the subsample of each of the three states. Second, to analyze the scoring pattern across the eight years’ time range for both preservation and utilitarian preferences. Third, to investigate any age effects in the extracted factors. Finally, to extract suitable recommendations for educational implementation efforts.

Keywords:

• 2-MEV
• Preservation
• Utilization
• Adolescent green attitudes
• Values

Acknowledgements

The larger program evaluations that provided the data for this study were conducted by the Earth Education Research and Evaluation Team in the College of Education at the University of Arizona. The authors thank the thousands of students who completed the 2-MEV, the teachers who administered them, and the three program centers that not only have implemented important educational programs for so many students but also cared enough about the quality of their programs to ensure that rigorous evaluation of their programs was conducted.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.