Comparing College Students' Environmental Perceptions and Attitudes

This study used the grid procedure to the extent to which different groups of college students would demonstrate their environmental concern. Environmental studies students and business students were contrasted, first, in terms of their comparisons of triadic groupings of Bellingham, Washington places; second, in terms of their scores on an environmental attitudes questionnaire; and third, in terms of their self-reports about proenvironmental actions. The extent to which data from each level would correspond to the other kinds of data was of interest. The results indicated that environmental studies students (and self-proclaimed political liberals) not only scored significantly higher on the questionnaire, but also demonstrated their environmental concern through the use of personal constructs related to environmental issues and involvement in a number of proenvironmental activities. Business students demonstrated a lesser degree of concern on each of the levels measured. The grid procedure was found to be a useful research instrument in understanding environmental perceptions and attitudes.