Development and validation of two scales to measure elaboration and behaviors associated with stewardship in children. Issue 2 (7th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vezeau, Susan Lynn; Powell, Robert B.; Stern, Marc J.; Moore, D. DeWayne; Wright, Brett A.
• Is Part Of: Environmental education research. Volume 23:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 192
• Page End: 213
• Publication Date: 2017-02-07
• Subjects: confirmatory factor analysis -- scale development -- elaboration likelihood model -- stewardship behavior -- environmental education; Environmental education -- Research -- Periodicals; 333.7207
• DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2015.1121377
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-4622

Abstract

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.