Development and validation of two scales to measure elaboration and behaviors associated with stewardship in children |
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| Authors: | Susan Lynn Vezeau Marc J Stern D DeWayne Moore Brett A Wright |
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| Institution: | 1. Environmental Planner for Resources at Risk, WA Dept. Of Ecology, Lacey, WA, USA;2. Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech, VT, Blacksburg, VA, USA;3. Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA;4. Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA |
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| Abstract: | This investigation examines the development of two scales that measure elaboration and behaviors associated with stewardship in children. The scales were developed using confirmatory factor analysis to investigate their construct validity, reliability, and psychometric properties. Results suggest that a second-order factor model structure provides the best fit. This model produced: (1) a stewardship elaboration scale measuring interest and cognitive engagement in stewardship issues, and (2) a stewardship behavior scale measuring in-park, community, and home behaviors. These scales will be useful for evaluating environmental educational programs focused on environmental and park stewardship. The scales may also help researchers assess whether environmental education results in participants elaborating on persuasive messaging, thereby increasing the likelihood that behavioral intentions leading to behavior change will occur. |
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| Keywords: | confirmatory factor analysis scale development elaboration likelihood model stewardship behavior environmental education |
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