Hi all,
As people on this Listerv know, there are many factors that influence an individual's orientation and attitudes toward sustainability.
We're currently looking for evidence to determine the role of 'meaningful nature experiences'* (e.g. profound encounter with wildlife) in catalyzing/fostering sustainable behaviour... and, maybe more importantly, a reconnection to nature. This is being done as part of transdisciplinary PhD research aimed at understanding how insights from such experiences may inform education for sustainability and the design of 'interventions'.
We would be grateful if you - or anyone you may know of - can help us out and complete the online survey by going to this URL:
http://eyes4earth.org/survey/index.php?sid=59934&lang=en
Should I take the survey?
If at least one of the following apply to you then please go for it and take the survey:
- You have had what you consider to be (a) meaningful* experience(s) with nature and/or a profound encounter with wildlife (plant, animal, insect, bird, reptile, marine life....) anywhere on the globe;
- You have opinions on how environmental change (with a primary focus on exotic/alien invasive species) may affect ones current and future meaningful experiences of nature/biodiversity;
- You have opinions on how insights from meaningful experiences with nature may improve strategies for environmental education, conservation management and broader public awareness aligned with sustainability.
If you are unable to take the survey but would still like to share your views please feel to do so here on the FSB thread or by emailing: Matt [[email protected]] with any other questions or feedback.
*NOTE - 'Meaningful' may include: awakening; peak; flow; synchronistic; 'exceptional' ; symbolic; serendipitous; 'significant' ; mystical; oneness; religious; divine, revelation , a-ha or 'significant life' experiences or any event in or with nature which you consider to have been catalytic or transformative for an individual in some way.
Thanks in advance for your time, support and willingness to assist.
Warm regards,
Matthew Zylstra
Matthew Zylstra
Netherlands
Meaningful Nature Experiences: A Catalyst for Fostering Sustainable Behaviour?
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Hi Matthew,
"They (Kempton et al. (1995)) surveyed different groups in the US, ranging from strong environmentalists
to those they thought were strong anti-environmentalists. Kempton found
the average knowledge about environmental issues to be low. Surprisingly, the
lack of knowledge was equally strong among environmentalists and nonenvironmentalists.
His study therefore implies that environmental knowledge
per se is not a prerequisite for pro-environmental behavior."
This is from a paper called Mind the Gap https://www.d.umn.edu/~kgilbert/educ5165-731/pwreadings/Mind%20Gap.pdf
On another note of interest, in this paper is the citation that 80% of the factors influencing bahaviour change are NOT information and awareness. I chased that down further and found the original study estimated 1% of behaviour change was information.
I'll go take your survey, but thought you might be interested in this.
Cheers.
Ruben Anderson
Communications Specialist
Metro Vancouver
Canada
Thanks Jean & Ruben for the valuable information.
Jean, I am actually utilizing Mayer & Frantz's CNS scale in my research so this study is indeed helpful.
Ruben, that article was superb. I've come across some of the research the authors cited but not this article itself. It should be a must-read review for anyone with an interest in the dynamics and complexities of behaviour change.
Cheers,
Matt
Matthew Zylstra
Doctoral Researcher
Stellenbosch University
South Africa
http://eyes4earth.org
Hi Matt,
I am glad you liked the paper. I was contacted by another reader and sent a more detailed list of readings I have found very influential in my Human Factors and Behaviour Change work. I'll paste that in for your reading pleasure...
The paper I go back to over and over again is called Creatures of Habit.
http://www.smf.co.uk/creatures-of-habit.html
In conjunction with that, David Rock has written a book which explains some of our cognitive limits called Your Brain at Work. He also has a video of a talk at Google that I found critical to understanding how change happens.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeJSXfXep4M
After those two, I would read Common Cause
http://www.wwf.org.uk/wwf_articles.cfm?unewsid=4224
And then I would read Common Good.
http://coi.gov.uk/aboutcoi.php?page=328
And a selection of the pop behavioural books. I like Predictably Irrational and the Upside of Irrationality, but Sway, Switch and Nudge are all enjoyable as well.
On another note, a story on TreeHugger yesterday demonstrates the difference between reward and incentive.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/03/anonymous-gifts-say-thank-you-for-cycling.php
Incentives have been clearly shown to backfire or be temporary. I think this reward triggers different reactions.
Ruben Anderson
Communications Specialist
Metro Vancouver
Canada
Matthew, I saw a presentation by some folks at Oberlin college where they found that the "connectedness to nature" is important in getting students to reduce electricity usage. You can see their very brief slides at http://www.stanford.edu/group/peec/cgi-bin/docs/events/2010/becc/presentations/2C_JohnPetersen.pdf You would need to contact them for more information. I think they have (at least part of) what you're looking for.
Jean Waters
Energy and Environmental Engineer
Nebraska Business Development Center
United States
www.nbdc.unomaha.edu/energy