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2017 Conference

del 21 al 24 de June del 2017

Tuscon, AZ

AESS 2017 Draft Conference Session Schedule

Personal Definitions of Sustainability When Assessing a 'Sustainability Culture'

jueves, el 22 de junio de 2017 a las 10:30–12:00 MDT
ENR2 S217
Abstract

The variation in personal definitions of sustainability is a key consideration for many aspects of sustainability in higher education, including communications, research, and assessment. This presentation discusses the results of a study that provided insight into variation of personal definitions of 'sustainabiltiy' and how differences in personal definitions shape respondents' answers to other related questions.  The research asks "what does ‘sustainability’ mean to our university employees?" and "how do these perceptions shape the measurement of a campus 'sustainability culture'?"  A random sample of 1600 employees at a large public university received an online survey in October 2016 that asked them to think about sustainability and then select items from a list that they would include in their personal definition.  The items aligned to the following categories: health of the environment, health of humans, economic prosperity, social well-being, and consideration of future generations.  Additional questions explored behaviors, observed behaviors, values, and cognitive worldview.  Basic descriptive statistics, correlations with behaviors and perceptions, and an exploratory factor analysis were conducted. Highlights of the results from N=297 usable responses are that at least one environment item appeared in 87% of respondents' conceptions of sustainability whereas at least one economic and one social item occurred in only 40% and 35% of definitions respectively.  At this university, 'sustainability' is still largely conceived as grounded in the environmental dimension.  Authors include: Alexander, R.; Hartman, C.J.; Sturm, D.; Holzman, M.

Primary Contact

[photo]
Rob Alexander, James Madison University

Presenters

[photo]
Rob Alexander, James Madison University
Title of paper

Personal Definitions of Sustainability and Assessing a 'Sustainability Culture'

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