In the Eye of the Beholder: Danish Consumer-Citizens and Sustainability

Beckmann, Suzanne C.

doi:10.1007/0-387-25004-2_15

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 46 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For research on environmental issues, this tendency would make people indicate in a survey that they hold higher levels of environmental attitudes and perform more ecological behaviour than is in fact true. Hence, questions on environmental issues are believed to be highly affected by social desirability concerns (e.g., Beckmann 2005). The general acceptance that peoples' attitudes and behaviours related to environmental issues are strongly affected by SDR has important implications for research, especially because most studies measuring environmental attitudes and ecological behaviour tend to rely on self-reports.…”

Section: Socially Desirable Responding and Environmental Issuesmentioning

confidence: 98%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The effects of social desirability on self-reported environmental attitudes and ecological behaviour

2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There are several claims in the literature that social desirability concerns affect people's response to selfreported measures of environmental attitudes and ecological behaviour. However, only a few empirical studies have indirectly evaluated the impact of social desirability on environmental issues measures, and those who did have found only a low impact. This article describes two studies that explicitly address whether socially desirable responding has direct and moderating effects on self-reported environmental attitudes and ecological behaviour. Results from correlational and moderated multiple regression analyses from both studies showed that social desirability had only a weak direct effect on environmental attitudes (but not ecological behaviour), and had no moderating effect on the environmental attitudes-ecological behaviour relationship. Implications of these findings for research on environmental issues are discussed.

show abstract

Section: Socially Desirable Responding and Environmental Issuesmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…One variable that seems to affect people's evaluation of environmental problems is social desirability concerns. Because, as noted by Beckmann (2005), ''Who actually would dare to admit disinterest or even anti-environment attitudes?'' (p. 281).…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

The effects of social desirability on self-reported environmental attitudes and ecological behaviour

2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This research has, however, been limited to the exploration of temporal distance (Agerström & Björklund, 2009a;Agerström et al, 2012;Fessel, 2011), social distance (Agerström et al, 2012), moral dilemmas (Agerström & Björklund, 2009a;Agerström et al, 2012), anticipated (Agerström & Björklund, 2009a or self-reported behaviour (Fessel, 2011). Furthermore, research has highlighted the potential social bias in self reported environmental behaviour (e.g., Auger & Devinney, 2007;Beckmann, 2005). Our aim is to consider each of the dimensions of psychological distance as potentially important to sustainable and recycling behaviours (e.g., it happens in a social context, outcomes can be uncertain and we make a choice whether to engage in the behaviour now or perhaps sometime in the future).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recycling today, sustainability tomorrow: Effects of psychological distance on behavioural practice

Schill

Shaw

2016

European Management Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Much research has reported an attitude-behaviour gap in ecological behaviours. This research seeks to contribute important insights to this literature through a study that uses construal level theory (CLT) to understand the role and impact of psychological distance in explaining sustainable and recycling behaviours. Using a qualitative approach, the research found that consistency between mental construal and all dimensions of psychological distance was pertinent to recycling and sustainable behaviours. While theoretically CLT suggests there should be consistency across psychological distance dimensions and mental construal, there is limited research that explores all distance dimensions. Further, highlighted was the need for a near distance perspective to move individuals to behavioural action. Contrary to previous research, this served to facilitate rather than inhibit behavioural action. Finally, the results suggest that where sustainable behaviours are facilitated and/or required engagement in behaviour can be increased. These findings are important for public policy by highlighting the need to represent recycling behaviour in terms of temporal, spatial, social and hypothetical closeness. IntroductionResearch has consistently revealed widespread awareness and concern for ecological issues in a consumer context (e.g., Kilbourne & Beckmann, 1998;Polonsky, Vocino, Grau, Garma, & Ferdous, 2012;Rondinelli & Berry, 2000;Szekely & Knirsch, 2005;Steger, 2000;Van Wijk & Persoon, 2006). However, researchers are also challenged by the gap between ecological attitudes and corresponding behaviour (e.g., Carrigan & Attalla, 2001;Moraes, Carrigan & Szmigin, 2012;Papaoikonomou, Ryan, & Ginieis, 2011;Young, Hwang, McDonald, & Oates, 2010) across a range of sustainable behaviours, including recycling (e.g., Kok & Siero, 1985;Nigbur, Evanthia, & Uzzell, 2010).Sustainability and recycling behaviour are interrelated, with recycling viewed as a key issue in sustainability (Fuller, Allen, & Glaser, 1996) and dominantly as a proenvironmental consumer behaviour (e.g., Barr & Gilg, 2005;Steg & Vlek, 2009;Welfens, Nordmann, & Seibt, 2015). As such, we understand recycling, among others, as a behaviour that may offer one fruitful pathway to a more sustainable consumer society. The Brundtland report defines sustainability as "a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (Brundtland Report, 1987, 1). Here we find a discourse which seeks to motivate individuals' consumption via future-oriented arguments, where some present inconvenience is associated with long-term benefits to others.Recycling is part of this discourse. Recycling "involves systematically converting specific types of waste into useful resources by breaking down objects into their 3 constituent parts, which are then reused" (Brosius, Fernandez, & Cherrier, 2013, 288).Engaging in recycling now should have future benefits. Questioned, however, is the extent to which this "future-for-...

show abstract

“…If the resident agreed to take part, the researcher arranged a time for collection (at least 24 hours later) rather than completing the questionnaire with each respondent. This method was used to avoid social desirability bias (where the presence of the researcher biases responses to those considered more ‘socially desirable’; Paulhus 1984; Beckmann 2005), whilst allowing more questionnaires to be distributed given time constraints. If there was no answer at the agreed upon collection time, the researcher left a card with a telephone number and requested the respondent call to rearrange collection.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Balancing artificial light at night with turtle conservation? Coastal community engagement with light-glow reduction

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SUMMARYArtificial lighting is a significant threat to biodiversity. Although efforts to reduce lighting are crucial for species’ conservation efforts, management is challenging because light at night is integral to modern society and light use is increasing with population and economic growth. The development and evaluation of appropriate light management strategies will require positive public support, and a comprehensive understanding of public engagement with light pollution. This is the first study to examine public engagement with reducing light at night for the protection of a threatened species. A community campaign to reduce artificial light use was initiated in 2008 to protect marine turtles at a globally significant nesting beach. Semi-structured questionnaires assessed community engagement with light-glow reduction, using an existing theoretical constraints framework. Despite high levels of cognitive and affective engagement (knowledge and concern), behavioural engagement (action) with light reduction in this community was limited. Community perceptions of light reduction were dominated by ‘uncertainty and scepticism’ and ‘externalizing responsibility/blame’, implying that behavioural engagement in this community may be increased by addressing these widely-held perceptions using modified campaign materials and/or strategic legislation. Further refinement of the theoretical constraints framework would better guide future empirical and conceptual research to improve understanding of public engagement with critical environmental issues.

show abstract

In the Eye of the Beholder: Danish Consumer-Citizens and Sustainability

Cited by 8 publications

References 46 publications

The effects of social desirability on self-reported environmental attitudes and ecological behaviour

The effects of social desirability on self-reported environmental attitudes and ecological behaviour

Recycling today, sustainability tomorrow: Effects of psychological distance on behavioural practice

Balancing artificial light at night with turtle conservation? Coastal community engagement with light-glow reduction

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About