Robert B. Bechtel

Environmental beliefs and water conservation: An empirical study

Abstract Observations of residential water consumption were conducted with 510 individuals living at two northern Mexican cities. In addition, they responded to a questionnaire investigating their general environmental beliefs and their specific (utilitarian–anthropocentric, and ecological) beliefs regarding the status of water as a natural resource. General environmental beliefs were modeled as having a tri-factorial structure, including beliefs regarding (1) the need of maintaining a “balance” with nature, (2) the need of imposing “limits” to human growth, and (3) a human exception paradigm (HEP). Two structural models of relations between general environmental beliefs, specific water beliefs and water consumption were specified and tested. The first model failed in producing direct effects of general environmental beliefs on water consumption. The second model revealed that general environmental beliefs differentially influenced the development of specific beliefs regarding water: Utilitarian water beliefs were positively affected by the HEP, while ecological water beliefs were positively influenced by “limits” beliefs and were negatively related to the HEP. Utilitarian water beliefs, in turn promoted water consumption, while the ecological water beliefs inhibited that behavior.

Environmental Belief Systems United States, Brazil, and Mexico

This study analyzes responses from 505 undergraduates from the United States, Mexico, and Brazil to the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale. This instrument typically measured the separation from nature (Human Exception Paradigm) from the NEP as a dichotomy. Using confirmatory factor analysis, a trifactorial structure emerged from the Brazilians and Mexicans and a bifactorial from the U.S. sample. The United States held the most dichotomous view, the Mexicans were also dichotomous but less extreme, and the Brazilians seemed to see no need for a separation between nature and growth.

A cross‐cultural study of environmental belief structures in USA, Japan, Mexico, and Peru

Throughout history, the way in which people conceive nature/human relationships has dramatically changed, and different cultures also have divergent notions regarding the role humans play in nature. In Western societies a “new environmental paradigm” (NEP) of ecological nature has apparently replaced the old “human exception paradigm” (HEP), which conceives of humans as being superior and apart from nature. Previous research has shown that, in those societies, a marked dichotomy exist between these two apparently contradictory paradigms, meaning that people who accept the NEP reject the HEP. Countries other than Western ones also exhibit a bias towards the ecological paradigm; however, their world‐views are not necessarily dualistic, since they may adhere to the NEP and, simultaneously, believe that human beings are “special.” This study compares world‐views in four different countries. Responses of 1358 undergraduates from USA, Japan, Mexico, and Peru to the HEP and the NEP scale were analysed to see if ...

Perceived Urban Residential Quality A Cross-Cultural Bimodal Study

This research involved Saudi Arabians and Americans in the assessment of urban residential quality. The study sites were four residential areas in each of two desert cities, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Tucson, Arizona. Both cities were portrayed in audiovisual simulations. In addition, on-site visits were made by touring panels of Saudi Arabians and Americans to the Tucson sites. Primary research objectives included investigation of potential crosscultural differences and assessment of the validity of the bimodal urban simulations and of the use of touring panels for assessing environmental quality. Cross-cultural differences were found in all phases of the research; modest support was found for the validity of the simulations; and important differences were found between on-site assessments by touring panels and residents of the study areas.

Assumptions, Methods, and Research Problems of Ecological Psychology

The basic assumption of ecological psychology is that the person is not the basic unit of human behavior, instead, the most basic unit is the Behavior Setting. This is a very radical statement and contrary to almost all of psychology which sees the person as the most fundamental unit of study and the source of all behavior.

Environmental Psychology and Biosphere 2

This chapter deals with two categories of research in environmental psychology, the ecological psychology of the Biosphere 2 environment and the selection process related to that environment.

Simulation Techniques in Design Research

The last few years have seen an explosion of computer simulation. Once mathematical models can be developed for any natural process, they can be programmed for computer simulation. In this way weather prediction has improved (Tribbia and Anthes, 1987); tidal power can be simulated for the design of power plants (Greenberg, 1987); the design of trophy-winning yachts (Letcher, et al, 1987) can be pretested without touching the water; ecological systems (Luker, 1987) can be modeled; nuclear war can be programmed as a computer game (Dewdney, 1987a); and even a cocktail party simulation can be a computer game (Dewdney, 1987b). But the most sophisticated and expensive simulations are those used in training military and airline pilots (Haber, 1986; Chiles, 1986). Flight simulators have now become so reliable that they can be used to train pilots to react to hazardous situations that have not heretofore been experienced.

Advances in POE Methods: An Overview

Design research should now be differentiated into Pre-Design Research (PDR) and Post-Occupancy Evaluations (POEs). While most methods overlap, the different purposes of these two types of research influence selection of methods and analyses and modify methods to suit each. Simulation is the only method peculiar just to PDR and is rapidly advancing to a micro stage through electronic advances. The self-report controversy continues for all methods that use self-report forms of answers. The newest field, the transactional approach, also stirs controversy. Industry and government clients are preferring expert and focused groups and these may be in danger of crowding out the more tried methods of social science.

And then there was snow in Alaska: A sharing of experience with Allan Wicker

A perennial problem with theorizing is the improper context which experiments and correlational studies assume without understanding first the environmental levels of correspondence at which variables operate in nature. Ecological studies show variables can operate within separate contexts in such a way as to cancel the influence if too large or too small a context is chosen. One must first determine the proper level of correspondence before investigating the causal relationship. An example of the variable of snow in Alaska is explored and different levels of correspondence cited in attitude studies and economics. Only when levels of correspondence are understood does the true causal relationship permit measurement and interpretation.