Re-evaluation of the New Ecological Paradigm scale using item response theory

Zhu, Xiaowen; Lu, Chenyang

doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.10.005

Cited by 43 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Moreover, future authors can apply different methodological techniques that provide additional diagnostic information not provided in a CFA. Zhu and Lu (2017), for instance, use item-response theory to show that some items of the NEP are more reliable than others, especially when subjects' attitudes become more extreme. Ultimately, when paired with similar tests of dimensionality like those reported here, such information would be valuable.…”

Section: Recommendations and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measurement of Environmental Concern: A Review and Analysis

2020

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Growing concern about the seriousness of issues such as climate change has made the value of research on social and behavioral aspects of environmental problems clearer than ever. For authors studying environmental concern or attitudes, however, survey development can be a daunting task. A large number of scales measuring environmental concern have been developed, and it can be challenging to make informed decisions about which to use. To assist authors in navigating the literature, we present a review of existing scales, followed by two studies in which we examine the structural validity of five scales that are commonly implemented in this corpus and that adhere to classical test theory. These results have important implications for general issues with measurement in this area, and inform our recommendations for authors about key considerations when selecting and using environmental concern scales.

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Section: Recommendations and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measurement of Environmental Concern: A Review and Analysis

2020

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“…To achieve these aims, we will first analyze the psychometric properties of the NEP scale, and then check whether a method effect (positive and negative wording of items) exists when examining the scale's dimensionality. Zhu and Lu (2017) suggested that when using the revised NEP scale, negatively worded items tend to form a single factor (method effect). Our systematic review also pointed towards this method effect, as the even-numbered items tend to form one factor (Bechtel et al 1999;Freire et al 2013;Kruter et al 2012).…”

Section: Study 2 -Empirical Analysis Of the Use Of The Revised Nep Scmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following Zhu and Lu's (2017) suggestion, if this method effect is identified in the present study, the internal consistency and construct validity of an 8-items version of the NEP scale formed by the odd-numbered items will be checked. Additionally, we will examine the NEP scale's association with connectedness to nature (convergent validity), pro-environmental behaviors (predictive validity), and sociodemographic characteristics (know-group validity).…”

Section: Study 2 -Empirical Analysis Of the Use Of The Revised Nep Scmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Dunlap et al (2000), the NEP scale evaluates fundamental beliefs or worldviews, which are seen as indicators of EA (Hawcroft and Milfont 2010;Schultz et al 2005). Despite its extensive use across many different countries (Dunlap 2008;Hawcroft and Milfont 2010), its psychometric properties tend to be poorer when used in non-WEIRD countries, compared to when used in WEIRD countries (Schultz et al 2005;Zhu and Lu 2017). For example, whereas a high internal consistency (α > 0.80) was reported when using the NEP scale in Washington (USA) (Dunlap and Van Liere 1978;Dunlap et al 2000), lower internal consistency (α < 0.70) was found in studies with Turks (Atav et al 2015), Brazilians (Bechtel et al 1999), Nigerians (Ogunbode 2013), and Indians (Schultz et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bechtel et al (1999) found a bi-factorial structure with a sample of North Americans and a solution with three factors for Brazilians and Mexicans. According to Zhu and Lu (2017), the positive and negative wording of the NEP scale's items seems to influence its factorial structure. The authors noted a tendency for even-numbered items to form a cluster, and this method effect appears to be influencing the NEP scale's factorial structure with samples of several non-WEIRD countries (Atav et al 2015;Freire et al 2013;Moyano-Diaz and Palomo-Vélez 2014;Reyna et al 2018;Xie et al 2017;Zhu and Lu 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Measuring Brazilians’ environmental attitudes: A systematic review and empirical analysis of the NEP scale

2018

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The New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale is the most widely used instrument to assess environmental attitudes (EA). However, the validity of its use in developing countries has been overlooked. Considering the importance of Brazil for the future of the environment, we present two complementary studies to examine how the NEP scale has been used in Brazil, its validity to evaluate Brazilians' EA, and possible ways to improve this instrument. In the first study, we present a systematic review of studies that used the NEP scale (original and revised versions) with Brazilians. In the second study, we conduct an empirical analysis using the revised NEP scale. Results from both studies show that the NEP scale's factorial structure can be influenced by the items' positive and negative wording, Brazilians hold medium-high pro-EA, and that the scale presents low internal consistency. Study 1 showed that the scale's convergent, predictive, and known-group validity differs across studies. In Study 2, the revised NEP scale was significantly associated with connectedness to nature, proenvironmental behavior, gender, and political ideology. These results support its convergent, predictive, and known-group validity. We conclude that the validity of using the NEP scale with Brazilians is questionable and discuss ways of improving this instrument.

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Sustainability Competence Assessment Validation

Annelin,

Boström

2024

World Sustainability Series

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Re-evaluation of the New Ecological Paradigm scale using item response theory

Cited by 43 publications

References 48 publications

Measurement of Environmental Concern: A Review and Analysis

Measurement of Environmental Concern: A Review and Analysis

Measuring Brazilians’ environmental attitudes: A systematic review and empirical analysis of the NEP scale

Sustainability Competence Assessment Validation

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