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To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6237.2008.00573.x Byline: Riley E. Dunlap (1), Aaron M. McCright (2) Abstract: Objective. We offer an empirical measure of 'social movement identity' vis-a-vis the environmental movement. Our measure of environmental movement identity complements existing efforts to measure the ambiguous concept of 'environmental identity.' Methods. We utilize data from a 2000 Gallup Poll of 1,004 adults to examine relationships between our measure of environmental movement identity and self-reported membership in environmental organizations, assessments of the environmental movement, and self-reported pro-environmental behaviors. Results. The measure appears to have face validity, and our results suggest it also has construct and predictive validity since it is related to environmental organization memberships, assessments of the environmental movement, and self-reported pro-environmental behaviors-even when controlling for relevant sociopolitical characteristics. Conclusions. The measure is useful for analyses of the environmental movement, can be adapted for research on other movements, and can help social movement analysts respond to calls to investigate linkages between public opinion and movement dynamics. Author Affiliation: (1)Oklahoma State University (2)Michigan State University

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6237.2007.00467.x Byline: Chenyang Xiao (1), Riley E. Dunlap (2) Abstract: Objective. The dimensionality of 'environmental concern' remains ambiguous despite decades of research on environmental attitudes and beliefs. We attempt to provide insight into this issue by using the belief systems perspective and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test a comprehensive conceptualization of environmental concern. Methods. The study employs a comparative design by using national probability samples of citizens from Canada and the United States, and a comprehensive conceptualization model to maximize content validity. We utilize CFA and structural equation modeling techniques to avoid well-known measurement error problems in survey research. Results. Eight key facets of environmental concern have moderate to high factor loadings on one underlying construct, and all but perception of community problems and national problems have high loadings. Further analyses provide construct validation for our measurement model. Conclusion. Our results suggest that even among the general public, attitudes toward environmental issues are relatively well organized into a broad and coherent sense of 'concern for the environment.' The similarity in the U.S. and Canadian results increases our faith in the validity of our comprehensive conceptualization of environmental concern, as well as the utility of the belief systems perspective and CFA modeling for future studies of environmental attitudes and beliefs. Author Affiliation: (1)Albright College (2)Oklahoma State University

A survey was conducted to rate the American public support for the job of the US President George W Bush on environmental protection. The results suggested that 38% believed that Bush was doing a poor job of protecting the nation's environment, while nearly 39% still felt that he was doing a good job.

Brechin and Kempton (1994) argued that the environmentalism in non-industrialized nations is an anomaly for the postmaterialist-value change theory. They reasoned that these nations have not yet achieved the economic security required to foster the postmaterialist values thought to generate environmentalism. Therefore, postmaterialist-value change cannot sufficiently explain global environmental concern.

It is widely assumed that public concern for environmental quality is dependent on affluence, and is therefore stronger in wealthy nations than in poor nations. This assumption is tested via results from a 1992 international survey conducted by the George H. Gallup International Institute that obtained data on a wide range of environmental perceptions and opinions from citizens in 24 economically and geographically diverse nations. Aggregate, national-level scores for a variety of measures of public concern for environmental quality were created and correlated with per capita gross national product. Although the results vary considerably depending upon the measure, overall national affluence is more often negatively rather than positively related to citizen concern for environmental quality - contradicting conventional wisdom.

The opinions of Americans on the Unites States' environment movements and global warming are presented.

Major environmental organizations such as Sierra club and the Natural Resources Defense Council have posted blistering critiques of the Bush administration policies. The survey shows that there is a continue decline in the percentage of Americans, which say that George W. Bush is doing a good job of protecting the nation's environment.

The results from the annual Environmental/Earth Day poll indicate that there is no backlash against the Bush administration, since national attention to terrorism and was in Iraq has diverted pubic attention from administration of environmental records.

This study tests Rokeach's "two-value model" of political ideology by examining the relationship between self-identified "liberalism-conservatism" and the importance placed on the values of "personal freedom," "racial equality," and "sexual equality." The findings of a national survey indicate that liberals and conservatives do not differ significantly in the value placed on personal freedom but do differ significantly in the value placed on racial and sexual equality. Affirmative action implications of racial and sexual differences in the importance attached to equality are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduces several articles on social science.

The purpose of this article is to describe the emergence of environmental sociology and to delineate the essential characteristics that qualify this new specialization as a distinct area of inquiry. Environmental sociology involves recognition of the fact that physical environments can influence (and in turn be influenced by) human societies and behavior. The necessity of allocating resources is reflected by the concept of "multiple use," a concept that has become imbedded in the philosophy of forest management. Not only must environmental sociologists begin to consider the social organizational requirements of such a society-ranging from energy efficient housing patterns to zero population growth-but they must also ask how existing societies might be changed to meet such requirements. Knowledge of interactions among the elements of the social complex (population, technology, and cultural, social, and personality systems) and the physical environment will be vital in addressing these issues, but knowledge from traditional areas such as social change, deviant behavior, stratification, demography and social psychology will likewise be necessary.

Three hypotheses concerning the relationship between participation in outdoor recreational activities and environmental concern are developed from existing literature. The first predicts a positive association between participation in outdoor recreational activities and environmental concern. The second predicts a stronger association between participation in ‘appreciative’ activities and environmental concern than between ‘consumptive’ activities and environmental concern. The third predicts a stronger association between participation in outdoor recreational activities and concern for protecting aspects of the environment necessary for pursuing such activities than between participation in outdoor recreational activities and more ‘distant’ environmental concerns. The hypotheses are tested with data from a 1970 statewide survey. The first receives weak support; the second and third receive substantial support. Implications of the results for the future of pro-environmentalism in American society are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]