Honors Thesis Archive

Author	Lindsay Fetherolf
Title	Environmental Attitudes, Behavior and the Gaps In Between: A Study of College Students and Green Identity
Department	Sociology
Advisors	Nona Moskowitz, Sheryl Cunningham, and Sarah Fortner
Year	2020
Honors	University Honors
Full Text	View Thesis (1017 KB)
Abstract	This is a study that looks at the environmental attitudes of students at Wittenberg University. The study examines attitudes and behavior through the lens of the theorists Václav Havel and Karl Marx. Participants were asked to take a brief survey that accessed their carbon footprint, asked them what they knew about climate change and how environmentally friendly they thought they were. Then participants were asked if they would be interested in participating in an interview. The interviews asked a variety of questions ranging from personal opinion on climate change to participants' actual behavior and included an education piece on what Wittenberg does for the environment. Through interviews and surveys, this study’s aim was to find commonalities and differences between participant responses and their reasoning behind their positions and behaviors. The study found that many participants felt that they needed to be able to buy more or different products in order to be more environmentally friendly. The study also found that participants were greatly influenced by professors or classes to be more ethical in environmental decisions.