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Renewable and nuclear energy : An international study of students' beliefs about, and willingness to act, in relation to two energy production scenarios
Skamp, Keith Boyes, Eddie Stanisstreet, Martin Rodriguez, Manuel Malandrakis, Georgios Fortner, Rosanne Kilinc, Ahmet Taylor, Neil Chhokar, Kiran Dua, Shweta
Skamp, Keith
Boyes, Eddie
Stanisstreet, Martin
Rodriguez, Manuel
Malandrakis, Georgios
Fortner, Rosanne
Kilinc, Ahmet
Taylor, Neil
Chhokar, Kiran
Dua, Shweta
Abstract
Renewable and nuclear energy are two plausible alternatives to fossil fuel-based energy production. This study reports students’ beliefs about the usefulness of these two options in reducing global warming and their willingness to undertake actions that would encourage their uptake. Using a specially designed questionnaire, students’ (n > 12,000; grades 6 to 10) responses were obtained from 11 countries. Links between their beliefs about these energy options and their willingness to act were quantified using a range of novel derived indices: significant differences between beliefs and willingness to act were found across the various counties. One derived index, the Potential Effectiveness of Education, measures the extent to which enhancing a person’s belief in the effectiveness of an action might increase their willingness to undertake that action: this indicated that education may impact willingness to act in some countries more than others. Interpretations are proffered for the reported differences between countries including whether the extent of students’ concern about global warming had impacted their decisions and whether cultural attributes had any influence. Pedagogical ways forward are related to the findings.
Keywords
renewable energy, nuclear energy, cultural differences, environmental action, environmental education, global warming
Date
2019
Type
Journal article
Journal
Research in Science Education
Book
Volume
49
Issue
2
Page Range
295-329
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled