Dealing with global environmental change: the design and validation of the GEC attitude scale

Abstract

Global Environmental Change (GEC) refers to alterations in the structure and functioning of Earth Systems arising from the detrimental effects of human activities in the biophysical and socioeconomic spheres. This study constructs and validates a scale to measure GEC-related attitudes (SGEC) for use with educators and the public. The results, which were validated by a wide sample (N = 962), show a factor structure of four well-defined interrelated factors (χ² = 268.75; p < .000; χ²/gl = 1.84; AIC = 394.75; CFI = .934; RMSEA = .042 [.034 .050]), with reliability (α = .817, glb = .894, Ω = .855). The factors were Social Responsibility (SR), Need to Cope (NC), Individual Responsibility (IR), Anthropogenic Origin (AO). These factors and findings suggest the SGEC can provide relevant information on: (i) awareness of the anthropogenic origins of GEC, (ii) perceptions of the need to deal with GEC, and attributions of (iii) social and (iv) individual responsibility in solving and mitigating GEC-related problems.

Keywords:

• Global environmental change
• attitudes scale
• validation
• factor analysis
• responsibility

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Spain) under Grant EDU2017-82915-R and FEDER/Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities– Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Spain)/ESPIGA Project (“Scientific thinking and scientific practices in the post-truth era: Promoting epistemic performances in school, aiming to critical and empowered citizenship”) under Grant PGC2018-096581-B-C22.

Notes on contributors

Mercedes Varela-Losada

Mercedes Varela-Losada is assistant professor at the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Sport at the University of Vigo (Spain). Her research interests focus on Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, Climate Change, Science Teaching and innovative teaching methodologies.

Uxío Pérez-Rodríguez

Uxío Pérez-Rodríguez serves as associate dean of the Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences of the University of Vigo (Spain). He is a Professor of Experimental Science Education. His current research interests include problem-based teaching methodologies, Astronomy teaching and Environmental Education.

María Lorenzo-Rial

María A. Lorenzo-Rial is interim lecturer at the Faculty of Education and Sports Sciences, University of Vigo, in the area of Didactics of Experimental Sciences. Her current research interests include Education for Sustainability and, in particular, Ocean Sustainability, Science Teaching, the use of ICTs and problem-based teaching methodologies.

Pedro Vega-Marcote

Pedro Vega-Marcote is professor at the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Coruña (Spain). Currently his research interests focus on: Teacher training in Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, the Ecological Footprint and reduction of emissions of Greenhouse Gases, the implementation of Agenda 21 at the University and Municipalities (A21L), and Experimental Science Teaching.

Alan Reid

Alan Reid edits the international research journal, Environmental Education Research, and publishes regularly on environmental and sustainability education (ESE) and their research. Alan's interests in research and service focus on growing traditions, capacities and the impact of ESE research. A key vehicle for this is his work with the Global Environmental Education Partnership, and via NAAEE's eePRO Research and Evaluation. Find out more via social media, pages or tags for eerjournal.