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Hum Ecol (2013) 41:905914 DOI 10.1007/s10745-013-9614-8
Pro-Environmental Behavior: Does It Matter How Its Measured? Development and Validation of the Pro-Environmental Behavior Scale (PEBS)
Gail L. Markle
Published online: 19 September 2013# Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013
Abstract Many empirical studies examine the performance of pro-environmental behavior. A review of 49 recent studies revealed 42 unique measures of pro-environmental behavior. Analysis of these studies indicates a lack of consistency among the various behavioral measures. To address the issue of inconsistency in such a critical variable, I developed a new measure, the Pro-Environmental Behavior Scale (PEBS). The behaviors included in this scale are those identified by environmental scientists as having the greatest impact on the environment. Principal components analysis generated a 19-item scale with four dimensions. Coefficient alpha for the full scale was .76. Coefficient alphas for the subscales ranged from .62 to .74. Bivariate Pearson correlations between the PEBS and the New Ecological Paradigm Scale, the Environment Identity Scale, and the Environmental Regulations Attitude Scale demonstrated the scales construct validity. Test-retest correlations were strong, demonstrating reliability of the PEBS.
Keywords Pro-environmental behavior . Pro-environmental behavior scale . Environmental behavior measures
Introduction
Environmental degradation is a type of commons dilemma (Hardin 1968) in which individual consumptive actions have a negligible effect on a commonly held resource, yet the cumulative effect of such actions has a significant negative effect on the resource, impacting its future viability. Thus, the goal of the individual is at odds with that of the group. The dilemma lies in transforming rational individualistic behavior into socially beneficial group behavior and thus necessitates individual
behavioral change on a large scale. Although much research has explored how to facilitate such change, almost every researcher has measured the fundamental concept of pro-environmental behavior differently and there is a clear lack of consistency among the measures being employed. More than 30 years ago Van Liere and Dunlap noted this lack of consistency in measures of environmental concern, asking does it make a difference how environmental concern is measured? (1981: 652). I pose a similar question: does it make a difference how pro-environmental behavior is measured? In this paper, I examine measures of environmental behavior and discuss the development and validation of the Pro-Environmental Behavior Scale (PEBS).
Examining...