Place Attachment and Environmentally Responsible Behavior

Abstract

This article illustrates how an attachment to a local natural resource can influence environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) in an individual's everyday life. Our study showed that 4 general (e.g., talking with others about environmental issues) and 3 specific (e.g., sorting recyclable trash) behavioral indicators reflected a single environmentally responsible latent construct. Following previous research, we operationalized place attachment using 2 concepts: (a) place dependence (i.e., a functional attachment) and (b) place identity (i.e., an emotional attachment). The influence of these two concepts on ERB was examined using a structural equation model. Data for this analysis were obtained from a survey of youth, 14-17 years of age (N = 182), who participated in local natural resource work programs. Results supported the predicted relationships. As hypothesized, place identity mediated the relationship between place dependence and responsible behavior. Place dependence influenced place identity (β = .88, p < .001, R ² = .77), and place identity was significantly related to ERB (P = .63, p < .001, R ² = .40). Overall, the model suggests that encouraging an individual's connection to a natural setting facilitates the development of general ERB.     

Project R.A.C.E.

Abstract

Learning by doing may not be the most effective strategy for teaching environmental problem-solving skills. A survey of Michigan educators indicates that of the teaching strategies listed, case studies and talking about what others do to solve environmental problems are the most important. The implications of building familiarity with environmental issues and solutions from a variety of examples are discussed, and an explanation for the reported low success of classroom action projects is presented.     

The learning enrichment service (LES): A multi‐optioned approach to programming for gifted secondary school students

The Learning Enrichment Service (LES) is a multi‐optioned, research based model for bettor meeting the needs of gifted secondary school students. It acts as a school‐wide support system for teachers and students in both the regular classroom and specialized programs by screening, training, networking, counselling and exchanging information for enrichment programming.     

Relationship of Student Grade Expectations,Selected Characteristics,and Academic Performance

Students (N=415) in three academic areas (education, engineering, and business) estimated their final grade in a course at the beginning, middle, and end of a term and completed the 16PF Questionnaire. Results indicated that the Ss initial grade estimate was most accurate. No differences were found between high (A, B) and low (C, D, F) achieving Ss. Ss with high academic averages underestimated, and Ss with low averages overestimated grades. Overestimating education Ss were less intelligent than underestimators and less assertive and mature than accurate and overestimating Ss. Underestimating business Ss were less mature than overestimators and possessed lower self-sentiment than accurate estimators.     

Levels of Cognitive Functioning as Related to Anxiety

The relationships between levels of cognitive functioning as suggested by the Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook I and states of affective arousal as measured by Text Anxiety (the main variable of interest), General Anxiety, and Need for Achievement were investigated. Two separate samples were used: (1) 234 university students, and (2) 319 junior and senior class high school students.

For the university sample significant negative correlations between Text Anxiety and Knowledge (recall of specific facts) and Test Anxiety and Comprehension were found. For the high school sample the negative correlation between Test Anxiety and Comprehension was significant. No significant relations between Test Anxiety and higher levels of cognitive performance were found. The results are discussed in terms of interfering effects to task performance that Test Anxiety may produce when the examinee is given no information to “workwith” and must rely essentially on memory.     

Building Bridges for Those Under Bridges: A Lesson in Civility

Four questions are presented: What are the historical roots of motor development; How can motor development be characterized; How should motor development be conceptualized; and How should motor development be organized? A brief history presents the psychological roots of motor development and emphasizes the individual researchers who have created the area of motor development since the 1960s. Motor development is characterized as a composite of the researchers, knowledge, application of knowledge, systems for delivering knowledge, and graduate programs in motor development. Motor development should be a perspective rather than a structure or subdiscipline. All courses in human movement should be taught from a developmental perspective, research should be done within the appropriate subdiscipline, and some of that research should be developmental. Motor development will be best served if researchers align with scientists within the subdisciplines and share developmental information in cross-disciplinary groups.     

Arizona State University: Prominence Within the University Essential; Prominence Within the Academic Field Is Nice

ABSTRACT

This article posits that each content area that falls under the umbrella of kinesiology must develop a future cadre of professionals who are competent in their content knowledge and are trained as leaders who are able to understand the essential impacts of culture on their work. The intentional development of culturally fluent leaders should be a cornerstone placed at the intersections of the discrete fields contained within kinesiology to collectively and authentically promote excellence in the whole, which is potentially greater than anything possible for the individual parts. Cultural fluency is an on-going process of critical reflection with the intention of accurately interpreting intercultural interactions. Leadership is essential to support cultural fluency, and being culturally fluent may be essential for effective leadership. Both must be explicitly taught to future kinesiology professionals at the undergraduate and graduate levels to collectively move the professions forward to accurately serve the health, wellness, and physical activity needs of all individuals in our dynamic society.     

Cross-purposes and crossed wires in education policymaking on equity: The Ontario experiences, 1990-1995

Between September 1990 and June 1995, the Canadian province of Ontario experienced its first ever social-democratic government. This paper examines the record, in terms of both process and policy, of that government on educational equity at the elementary and secondary school levels. It reviews the government's record in educational equity and measures that record against the agenda the party had set for itself before the 1990 election. The government's policy-making on educational equity offers a rarely equalled case study of cross-purposes, non-communication, ostensibly wilful ignorance and crossed wires. The results have gone far to discredit educational equity as a meaningful (rather than symbolic) educational goal in Ontario.