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Measuring Pro-Environmental Behavior: Convergent Validity, Internal Consistency, and Respondent Experience of Existing Instruments

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  • Berre Deltomme

    (Department of Work, Organization, and Society, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan, 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Karen Gorissen

    (School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Bert Weijters

    (Department of Work, Organization, and Society, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan, 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium)

Abstract

The influence of human behavior on climate change and environmental decline is receiving increased attention; and therefore, it has led to an increase in studies that measure pro-environmental behavior (PEB) as a predictor, a covariate, or an outcome variable. To this end, (validated) self-report scales have traditionally been the main measurement tool, but lately, several experimental instruments have also been developed to measure PEB. Measurement instruments that are considered to measure the same construct should provide consistent results, i.e., they should show high convergent validity. However, it is not clear whether substitute measures for PEB show this necessary convergent validity and how they compare to each other in terms of internal consistency and respondent experience. To address this, we investigated thirteen validated self-report scales and three experimental tasks on their psychometric qualities (i.e., validity and internal consistency) and respondent experience. Therefore, we assigned 340 participants and randomly administered half of the instruments to each of them. The results show that, in general, convergent validity is lacking, which shows that the measurement instruments cannot be considered equivalent. As for respondent experience, the experimental tasks are most time-consuming, are perceived as most fatiguing, and are most sensitive to multitasking. The self-report scales are most sensitive to socially desirable responding and acquiescence bias. Our insights cater to researchers in environmental psychology and sustainability seeking to employ validated self-report scales or behavioral tasks in measuring PEB.

Suggested Citation

  • Berre Deltomme & Karen Gorissen & Bert Weijters, 2023. "Measuring Pro-Environmental Behavior: Convergent Validity, Internal Consistency, and Respondent Experience of Existing Instruments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-26, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:19:p:14484-:d:1253631
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. K. Armel & Katy Yan & Annika Todd & Thomas Robinson, 2011. "The Stanford Climate Change Behavior Survey (SCCBS): assessing greenhouse gas emissions-related behaviors in individuals and populations," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 109(3), pages 671-694, December.
    2. Otto, Siegmar & Kröhne, Ulf & Richter, David, 2018. "The dominance of introspective measures and what this implies: The example of environmental attitude," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 13(2), pages 1-13.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liat Ayalon, 2024. "A Typology of Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Demographic Correlates and Reasons for Limited Public Engagement in Pro-Environmental Behaviors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-10, October.
    2. Xunqian Liu & Xiaoqing Liu & Yi Yang, 2024. "Sowing Seeds of Sustainability: Assessing the Effects of a Green Residential Hall Program in Hong Kong," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Lembregts, Christophe & Cadario, Romain, 2024. "Consumer-Driven Climate Mitigation: Exploring Barriers and Solutions in Studying Higher Mitigation Potential Behaviors," OSF Preprints ywus6, Center for Open Science.
    4. Ebru Enginkaya & Munise Hayrun Sağlam, 2024. "Recycling Reinforced: The Synergistic Dynamics of Sustainable Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-20, May.

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