Effects of Social Networks and Media on Pro-Environment Behaviors

• Main Author: Schuett, Jessica Lynn
• Other Authors: Ignatow, Gabriel
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 2011
• Subjects: Social networks; Detroit; MI; media; pro-environment behavior
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc68044/

In this study, pro-environmental behaviors are investigated by studying if one's primary information sources about environmental issues either from their social network or the media influence this behavior. Data was collected from the 2002 Detroit Area Study with a total of 267 respondents. Three indexes were constructed to separately measure all seven pro-environment behavioral items, five conservation behavioral items, and two consumption behavioral items. A complex sample model was utilized in these analyses. Findings suggest that information sources are correlated to self-reported environmental behavior. As predicted, the people whose primary information source was social network were more likely to obtain higher scores on all three separate indexes than those individuals who primarily received information about environmental issues from the media.