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Environmental Values and Technology Preferences of First-Year University Students

Author

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  • Alexandra Stöckert

    (Didactics of Biology, Z-MNU (Centre of Math & Science Education) University of Bayreuth, NW-1, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany)

  • Franz X. Bogner

    (Didactics of Biology, Z-MNU (Centre of Math & Science Education) University of Bayreuth, NW-1, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany)

Abstract

Environmental and technological preferences correlate. Both are empirically accessible via established instruments such as the Two Major Environmental Value model (2-MEV) with “preservation” (PRE) and “utilization” (UTL), and the technology questionnaire with “interest in technology” (INT) and “social aspects of technology” (SOC). Additionally, “appreciation of nature” (APR) was monitored with a seven-item scale. We used these instruments to assess the preferences of freshmen in five different areas of study (law, economics, science, pedagogy, cultural studies). All subsequent analyses unveiled positive relations between appreciation and preservation, between the two technology subscales, as well as between utilization and social aspects of technology. Negative relationships appeared between preservation and utilization, preservation and both technology factors, as well as appreciation and social aspects of technology. In all subsamples, preservers (individuals with preservation preferences) showed little interest in technology or its social aspects; utilizers scored high in social aspects of technology, whereas appreciators displayed no interest in it. The freshmen’s areas of study seem to predict consistent tendencies to (biocentric) preservation or (anthropocentric) utilization. Moreover, females were more likely to preserve and appreciate nature whereas males preferred utilization along with interest in technology as well as in the social implications of technology. The observed differences can be used to develop new and improve existing educational programs; recommendations are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandra Stöckert & Franz X. Bogner, 2019. "Environmental Values and Technology Preferences of First-Year University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2019:i:1:p:62-:d:300021
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Patricia Raab & Christoph Randler & Franz X. Bogner, 2018. "How Young “Early Birds” Prefer Preservation, Appreciation and Utilization of Nature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Franz X. Bogner, 2018. "Environmental Values (2-MEV) and Appreciation of Nature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-10, January.
    3. Henry Kaiser, 1970. "A second generation little jiffy," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 35(4), pages 401-415, December.
    4. Franz X. Bogner & Johann C. Brengelmann & Michael Wiseman, 2000. "Risk-taking and environmental perception," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 49-62, March.
    5. Andrew Lepp & Jacob E. Barkley & Aryn C. Karpinski, 2015. "The Relationship Between Cell Phone Use and Academic Performance in a Sample of U.S. College Students," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(1), pages 21582440155, February.
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