Pro-environmental behavior in Singapore : effectiveness of commitment and information

• Main Author: Tan, Li Qin
• Other Authors: Michael David Gumert
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/61930
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This study sought to uncover the current environmental attitudes and behaviors of Singaporeans, and to examine the effectiveness of commitment and informational strategies in raising levels of pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in Singapore. The study involved two phases – a street survey, and an online survey delivered two weeks later. In the street survey, participants (N = 208; 107 male; median age = 21-25) completed a questionnaire containing one of six manipulations – control, commitment, specific information, general information, commitment plus specific information, and commitment plus general information. Results showed that in terms of environmental attitudes, participants had a more positive green worldview (M = 3.87, SD = 0.61) than green consumption attitudes (M = 3.35, SD = 0.64). As for environmental behaviors, participants more frequently performed resource limitation behaviors (M = 3.68, SD = 0.71) in comparison to green consumer behaviors (M = 2.89, SD = 0.77). The study failed to support the hypothesis that commitment coupled with specific informational strategies would be effective in raising levels of PEB, F(10, 60) = 1.56, p = .14, ns. The replication of certain general findings in the attitudinal and conservation psychological literature addresses the important concern of generalizability voiced by other researchers (Schultz, Oskamp, & Mainieri, 1995; Henrich, Heine, & Norenzayan, 2010; Schultz, 2014). Practical implications for people who are concerned about raising levels of PEB in Singapore are discussed.