Analysis
* Note that on opinion questions, the scale is (1-5) and (5) is considered the most ecologically literate. These numeric-value ratings were used by us in analysis of the returned surveys and did not appear on the actual survey. In this page, the ratings appear between parenthesis – e.g. “(2) Strongly Disagree” – whereas the numbers preceding each question on the actual survey are always in brackets, e.g. “[2] Gender”.
Format of questions and analysis:
Question
Seniors
Freshman
Demographical Section
Overall – An equal number of students responded from both classes. There is a notable difference in the gender of the respondents in the Senior class, but not of the Freshmen. The most popular (intended) majors of respondents were hard sciences, such as Biology, Geology and Chemistry. Additionally, we see a somewhat higher instance of Senior respondents being ENTS concentrators, but Freshmen who would become ENTS concentrators do not need to declare so yet, and they may account for the lower instance of Freshmen respondents being ENTS concentrators. Finally, we see the highest plurality of our respondents in both classes originating from the suburbs, though the Seniors have a notably higher rate of respondents originating from major cities, while more Freshmen respondents were raised in a town or rural area.
[1] Class year [#]
Seniors – 27
Freshmen – 27
[2] Gender [#]
Seniors – Males 16 – 59.3%
- Females 11 – 40.7%
Freshmen – Males 13 – 48.1%
- Females 14 – 51.9%
[3] Major / Intended Major (mode average major)
Seniors – Biology and Geology
Freshmen – Mostly undecided, then Biology and Chemistry
[4] Are you an Environmental and Technological Studies Concentrator?
Seniors – 11.1% yesFreshmen – 7.4% yes
[5] I was raised primarily in a
(1) Major City (2) Town (3) Suburb (4) Rural Area
Seniors – (1) 33.3% (2) 22.2% (3) 37.0 % (4) 7.4%
Freshmen – (1) 25.9% (2) 29.6% (3) 33.3% (4) 11.1%
[6] Circle the ONE that has contributed most to your understanding of environmental issues:
(1) Secondary Schools (2) Books/Newspapers (3) Family
(4) Other (5) College (6) Television (7) Friends
Seniors – Most respondents were most influenced by (5) College (22.2%), then (2) Books/Newspapers (18.5%) and then by (6) Television, (3) Family and (4) Other (all at 7.4%)
Freshmen – Most respondents were most in influenced by (2) Books/Newspapers (25.9%), then by (1) Secondary School (18.5%, and thirdly by (5) College and (7) Friends (each at 14.8%).
Comparison – The differences in responses may be due to the Freshmen’s recent (1) high school education, or by encountering new opinions at Carleton (5 and 7), whereas the Senior respondents have learned more through their (5) college educations. However, none of these difference are statistically very significant.
Attitudinal Section
Overall – Seniors rated aggregately at 3.99 while Freshmen rated at 3.96, which is virtually equal.[7] I think most of the concern about environmental problems has been exaggerated
(5) Strongly Disagree (4) Disagree (3) No Opinion (2) Agree (1)Strongly Agree
Seniors – averaged 4.35
Freshmen – averaged 4.00
[8] A community’s pollution regulations should go hand in hand with industrial growth and development
(1) Strongly Disagree (2) Disagree (3) No Opinion (4) Agree (5)Strongly Agree
Seniors – averaged 3.46
Freshmen – averaged 4.08
[9] I believe that plants and animals exist to be used by humans
(5) Strongly Disagree (4) Disagree (3) No Opinion (2) Agree (1)Strongly Agree
Seniors – averaged 4.00
Freshmen – averaged 3.63
[10] When someone owns land, they should be able to do whatever they want with it
(5) Strongly Disagree (4) Disagree (3) No Opinion (2) Agree (1)Strongly Agree
Seniors – averaged 4.15
Freshmen – averaged 4.00
[11] I feel that it is my responsibility to help solve environmental problems
(1) Strongly Disagree (2) Disagree (3) No Opinion (4)Agree (5)Strongly Agree
Seniors – averaged 4.00
Freshmen – averaged 4.04
Actions Section
Overall - Seniors rated at 3.65 while Freshmen rated at 3.31, in terms of environmental action, showing a slight negative correlation between attitudes and actions within classes. Of interest is the fact that the negative correlation among Seniors is not as great as among Freshmen. Attitudes minus actions averages are (3.99-3.65 =) 0.34 for Seniors and (3.96-3.31 =) 0.65 for Freshmen. Thus, the attitude to action coefficient for Seniors is 0.91 (= 3.65/3.99) while for Freshmen it is 0.84 (= 3.31/3.96), a 9.5% difference. This may the cause of effect of the higher rate of Senior respondents being ENTS concentrators ( see the ENTS section).[12] Do you have a car? YES NO
Seniors – 40.7% surveyed have a car on campus
Freshmen – 25.9 % have a car on campus
On average, how much do you spend on gasoline per week?
Seniors – Of those who have cars, the average amount spent (mean) on gas was $8.33
Freshmen – Spent a mean of $13.43 per driver per week.
[13] I turn off the lights and appliances when they are not being used in order to conserve electricity.
(1) NEVER (2) ALMOST NEVER (3) SOMETIMES (4) OFTEN (5) ALMOST ALWAYS
Seniors – averaged 4.26
Freshmen – averaged 3.89
[14] I recycle paper, glass, and/or metal waste products.
(1) NEVER (2) ALMOST NEVER (3) SOMETIMES (4) OFTEN (5) ALMOST ALWAYS
Seniors – averaged 4.37
Freshmen –averaged 4.30
[15] Will you be willing to take a pay cut in order to have a “green environment”?
YES NO
Seniors – 76 % responded yes
Freshmen – 73.5 % responded yes
[16] Excluding breakfast, how often do you eat a vegetarian meal?
(5) EVERY MEAL (4) 1 TIME/DAY
(3) 1-3 TIMES/WEEK (4) 1-3 TIMES/MONTH (5) NEVER
Seniors – averaged 3.59
Freshmen – averaged 3.22
[17] I try to buy locally grown or produced food whenever possible.
(1) NEVER (2) ALMOST NEVER (3) SOMETIMES (4) OFTEN (5) ALMOST ALWAYS
Seniors – averaged 3.00
Freshmen – averaged 2.56
[18] How many showers do you take on average?
Seniors – averaged 5.96 showers per week
Freshmen – averaged 6.70 per week
How long is each one?
Seniors averaged 9:32 minutes per shower
Freshmen averaged 10:29 minutes per shower
[19] I purchase one product over another because it is packaged in reusable, returnable, or recyclable containers or packages.
(1) NEVER (2) ALMOST NEVER (3) SOMETIMES (4) OFTEN (5) ALMOST ALWAYS
Seniors – averaged 3.04
Freshmen – averaged 2.56
Knowledge Section
Overall – The Seniors averaged 54.2 % aggregately correct on the question in this section, while the Freshmen were aggregately 50.8%. This difference is statistically insignificant and may not viably correlate with knowledge/action but rather be more of a cause of time spent at Carleton. Questions pertaining to Northfield ( [22, 23] ) were more often answered correctly by Seniors (51.9% correct versus Freshmen 48.2% correct), but this difference is almost negligible. However, on the other 5 questions in this section, the Seniors demonstrated proportionally more knowledge than the freshmen aggregately. Seniors were 55.2% correct while Freshmen were 51.9% correct on questions [20, 21, 24, 25, and 26], though again this 3.3% difference is small to insignificant. The most anomalous findings are in question [21].[20] Please estimate the world’s population to the best of your ability. (Answer ~ 6.2 Billion)
Seniors – averaged 63% correct
Freshmen – averaged 55.6% correct
[21] Name one federal or state legislation/act that helps protect the environment. (Answer – Multiple)
Seniors – averaged 37% correct
Freshmen – averaged 52% correct
[22] Which major river basin does Northfield lie in? (Answer – both Mississippi and Cannon are acceptable)
Seniors – averaged 63% correct
Freshmen – averaged 63% correct
[23] What current project is the Carleton taking up to help the arboretum? (Answers include controlled burning, native species restoration in woods and prairie, trail maintenance, flood control, chemical and biological field experiments, etc.)
Seniors – averaged 40.7 % correct
Freshmen – averaged 33.3% correct
[24] The most important chemical humans contribute to the greenhouse effect is: (Answer – Carbon Dioxide)
NITRATE CARBON DIOXIDE CFCs OZONE
Seniors – averaged 77.8% correct
Freshmen – averaged 63% correct
The Bush Administration – Not correct
[25] The ozone hole is a major cause of global warming. (Answer – False) TRUE FALSE
Seniors – averaged 50% correct
Freshmen – averaged 37% correct
[26] What is the major cause of acid rain? (Accepted answers are Sulfuric acid, Nitrates, Nitric Acid, ‘air pollution’ or ‘smokestack pollution’ – a very flexible range)
Seniors – averaged 48.1% correct
Freshmen – averaged 51.9% correct
Environmental and Technical Science (ENTS)Concentration Section
Overall – More Seniors than Freshmen had taken ENTS classes, clearly a function of time spent at Carleton. But the Senior respondents also showed a greater proportion of ENTS classes taken (i.e. the Freshmen number of .26 multiplied by four years –1.04- is significantly less than the Senior number of 1.67). Respondents from both classes felt roughly as informed about the ENTS department. Seniors and Freshmen felt almost equally in support for an ENTS major being offered at Carleton, but Senior respondents were less enthusiastic than Freshmen respondents about the possibility of a “ENTS requirement” for graduation (the equivalent of taking one ENTS class or a class cross-listed with ENTS). This may be due to the fact that the Freshmen have many more terms ahead of them at Carleton compared to Seniors, now in their final terms.
[27] How many courses in the ENTS department have you taken at Carleton (or classes cross-listed with ENTS)?
Seniors – averaged 1.96 ENTS classes per respondent
Freshmen – averaged .26 ENTS classes per respondent
[28] Do you feel you are well informed about the activities of the ENTS department?
(1) NO (2) SOMEWHAT (3) YES
Seniors – averaged 1.48
Freshmen – averaged 1.37
[29] Do you think there should be an Environmental and Technology Studies major at Carleton?
(1) NO (2) NO OPINION (3) YES
Seniors – averaged 2.48
Freshmen - averaged 2.44
[30] Do you think there should be an ENTS graduation requirement (similar to the RAD requirement)?
(1) NO (2) NO OPINION (3) YES
Seniors – averaged 2.26
Freshmen – averaged 2.54
Conclusions
Despite the efforts of our survey, the limited number of responses renders most of our findings statistically insignificant. As a rough threshold, differences of more than 10%, or greater than (0.4) for the value rated questions, are considered significant and worth further exploration. Nonetheless, we acknowledge that out survey only represents approximately 6% of each class (slightly proportionally more Seniors than Freshmen, because the Freshmen are a larger class). We wish we could have obtained more respondents to our surveys. At first we only obtained 35 surveys, and actively obtained 19 more respondents. Though this very action further biased our results, it seemed more worthwhile to obtain more results for the study than none at all. We hope that this survey might be taken as a model for future studies regarding environmental education on campus.