Understanding environmental choices and behaviour is becoming an increasingly important topic for research. Understanding Society has included questions on environmental attitudes and actions from Wave 1 of the survey and allows researchers to look at environmental choices as part of a wider socio-economic picture. Research using Understanding Society has looked at diverse environmental topics, from green behaviour in couple relationships to the effect of prenatal testosterone on pro-environmental behaviour, the impact of charging for carrier bags and whether environmental factors influence car choice.
We would now like to refresh our questions on environmental attitudes, to ensure that they meet the needs of researchers and support the longitudinal nature of Understanding Society. Our new Topic Champion for Environmental Behaviour, Professor Wouter Poortinga, has conducted a review of our environmental questionnaire content and has produced a Working Paper with recommendations for new content. The consultation will inform the design of Wave 15 of Understanding Society, which is scheduled for 2023/24.
We would particularly welcome feedback on the proposed new module on environmental attitudes. The questions included in this module are detailed in the Working Paper and focus on environmental identity, attitudes to climate change and personal responsibility for environmental issues.
The consultation period is now open. Please send any comments or feedback to us by Monday 23rd May. You can email your response to Becky Parsons, Understanding Society Communications Manager, at rparsons@essex.ac.uk
