Dear ecofem subscribers,
It's been almost two years since I unsubscribed from ecofem because
of my busy schedule. But I've been following the discussion from time to
time by browsing the gopher at the University of Virginia. I admit to
often being inspired to resubscribe so I can be an active participant, but
my schedule really doesn't permit it.
Anyway, one of the things that has kept me occupied is now bearing
fruit and I invite you to take part if you are so inspired. Stephanie has
granted me permission to post my survey to ecofem. If you respond, please
be sure to so directly to me at <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> and NOT to
the list. Since I'm not subscribed, if you have any questions/comments,
please also send them to me directly or at least cc me if you post them to
the list.
Thanks for your assistance with my research and apologies to those
for whom this file is a weighty burden on your e-mail system.
Warmest regards,
Roxanne
-----------
Dear Friend,
My name is Roxanne Lalonde. I am a doctoral student at the
University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I have developed a
questionnaire that explores how people feel about nature and how their
beliefs shape those feelings.
The environmental movement has been a strong influence in
contemporary society for the last several decades. Religion has been an
even stronger influence throughout human history. Very little attention
has been paid to the relationship between these two streams of human
thought and activity. You are warmly invited to participate in a two-stage
study designed to explore this relationship.
The following questions explore different aspects of our religious
beliefs and environmental attitudes. There are four main sections of the
questionnaire. The first part addresses various attitudes toward the
environment. The second is a short section that deals with your attitude
towards the planet and the rest of humanity. The third part includes
questions relating to your spiritual/religious beliefs. The final section
includes questions that provide statistical information.
You are a highly valued contributor to this study. Your response
to this questionnaire will be treated in the strictest confidence. Only I,
as the researcher, will have access to your return address, which will be
stripped from your response as soon as it arrives. To ensure even more
anonymity, you may wish to delete your name if it appears in the tag in
your e-mail address before you return the questionnaire. You may also wish
to turn off your automatic signature if you use one. Your raw response
will be stored on my personal computer, which is not connected to the
university network. The only other person who may have access to your
"raw" answers (only after your e-mail address has been stripped) is my
research supervisor, Dr. O.F.G. Sitwell.
This is an independent research project being conducted to
partially fulfill the requirements for a doctoral degree. I have not
sought nor will I be seeking funding from any organization that may wish to
either bias the results or to have access to the raw responses.
If you are interested, you may receive a copy of the summarized
results of the survey. Please indicate your interest in the designated
area at the end of the questionnaire.
The success of this project depends on your cooperation. Please
take the time to answer each question as thoroughly as possible; however,
if you feel uncomfortable with any question, feel free to move on to the
next one. The ideal method for responding to this questionnaire is
on-screen, but if you decide to answer the questionnaire after downloading
it or printing it off to share with friends, please ensure that you add
enough space to respond to the open-ended questions. If you feel that the
wording of a question makes it difficult for you to provide a complete
answer, please select the choice that most closely matches your belief. I
will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Please do not hesitate
to contact me.
Thank you for your assistance with this project.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Roxanne Lalonde
Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Earth Sciences Building
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
T6G 2E3
Canada
------------
Questionnaire, Stage 1
General guidelines: For all the multiple choice questions, please use an
"X" to identify your choice(s). For open-ended questions, please use as
much space as you need.
**This first set of questions relates to your attitude toward the
environment.**
1. Scholars have discovered that "environment" means many things to
different people. From the list below, please indicate those that mean
"environment" to you.
__ WILDERNESS
__ LANDSCAPED GARDEN
__ FARM
__ URBAN LANDSCAPE
__ RURAL LANDSCAPE
__ OTHER. PLEASE EXPLAIN.
2. Are you a member of or do you financially support environmental group(s)
such as GreenPeace, Friends of the Earth, and/or local environmental groups
in your community?
__ NO
__ YES. Please identify the groups you belong to and your activity in each.
3. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:
a. Earth is like a spaceship with only limited room and resources.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
b. We are approaching the limit of the number of people the earth can support.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
c. When humans interfere with nature it often produces disastrous consequences.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
d. Humans must live in harmony with nature in order to survive.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
e. There are limits to growth beyond which our industrialized society
cannot expand.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
f. To maintain a healthy economy, we have to develop a "steady state"
economy where industrialized growth is controlled.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
g. Humankind is severely abusing the environment.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
h. Humans need not adapt to the natural environment because they can remake
it to suit their needs.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
i. Human beings must control the environment in order to survive.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
j. The balance of nature is very delicate and easily upset.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
k. My purchasing habits affect people in other parts of the world.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
l. Environmental problems can be solved by applying more and better technology.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
**Now, here is a small group of questions about your relationship with the
world around you.**
4. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:
a. The interests of my country are more important than those of the planet.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
b. I feel more loyalty to my local community than I do to my country.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
c. I am a "world citizen."
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
5. Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of humanity?
Explain if you wish.
**The following set of questions relates to your spiritual/religious beliefs.**
6a. What spiritual movement(s) or religion do you belong to, if any?
6b. Please indicate the extent of your affiliation with the group(s)
identified in 6a. ("Affiliation" refers to a formal membership list; some
religious groups have an administrative infrastructure, others do not.)
__ FORMAL AFFILIATION
__ INFORMAL AFFILIATION
__ OTHER. PLEASE EXPLAIN.
6c. Please indicate the extent of your participation in the activities of
the identified group(s).
__ ACTIVE AND FREQUENT PARTICIPATION IN GROUP ACTIVITIES
__ SPORADIC PARTICIPATION IN GROUP ACTIVITIES
__ SUBSCRIBE TO BELIEFS, DON'T PARTICIPATE IN GROUP ACTIVITIES
__ OTHER. PLEASE EXPLAIN.
6d. How do you respond when asked "Do you believe in God?" Please explain
in as much detail as you wish.
7a. Which of the following definitions of religion best describes your
personal view?
Religion is ...
__ a means toward ultimate transformation (1)
__ the service or worship of God (2)
__ the service or worship of the supernatural (3)
__ commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance (4)
__ a personal set of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices (5)
__ an institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, & practices (6)
__ a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held with ardor and faith (7)
__ Other. Please define briefly.
7b. In addition to yours, which of the above definition(s) do you agree
with? You may choose more than one. Please use the numbers at the end of
each definition to identify your choice(s).
8. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:
a. Prayer is an important part of my daily life.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
b. We will all be called before God at the judgement day to answer for our sins.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
c. I am sometimes very conscious of the presence of the Divine.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
d. I never doubt the existence of a higher power.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
e. The end of the world is coming soon and only certain people will be saved.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
f. There is a powerful force (sometimes refered to as "chi") that exists in
all life on Earth and throughout the universe.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
g. The Bible is just one among many sources of divine Scripture.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
h. The Bible is the literal Word of God (e.g., the story of Genesis is
literally true).
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
i. The Bible is a book of fables.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
j. Humankind was created to rule over the rest of nature.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
k. Humans have the right to modify the natural environment to suit their needs.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
l. Living wastefully has karmic consequences.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
m. All creatures deserve to live, even those that harm human beings.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
n. Plants and animals exist primarily to be used by humans.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
o. The animals and plants are my brothers and sisters.
__ STRONGLY AGREE
__ MILDLY AGREE
__ NEUTRAL
__ MILDLY DISAGREE
__ STRONGLY DISAGREE
**Finally, here are a few questions to assist me in my statistical analysis.**
9. What is your cultural/ethnic background? Please include as many ethnic
identities as are relevant. Please indicate the one (if any) that is most
important to you by putting an asterisk (*) in front of it.
10. What is your gender?
__ FEMALE
__ MALE
__ RATHER NOT SAY
11. How old are you?
__ 18-25
__ 26-35
__ 36-45
__ 46-55
__ 56-65
__ OVER 65
__ RATHER NOT SAY
12. What is your primary occupation?
13. What level of education have you completed?
__ Secondary school
__ Undergraduate degree
__ Master's degree
__ PhD
__ Community college diploma
__ Technical/trade school diploma
__ Other
14. What is your personal income?
__ UNDER $20,000/YEAR
__ $20,000-30,000/YEAR
__ $30,000-50,000/YEAR
__ OVER $50,000/YEAR
__ RATHER NOT SAY
15. What state/province (if in Canada or U.S.) or country do you live in?
16. From which Internet discussion list(s) did you receive this survey?
Thank you for taking part in this project. Your participation is greatly
appreciated. If you would like to add any comments on the questionnaire
itself or the research project in general, please share them here. If you
would like to receive a copy of the analysis of the questionnaire, please
indicate that here. You may also wish to participate in the second stage
of this study, which comprises more open-ended questions, in which case you
may indicate that interest here as well. Please be sure to respond to me
directly at <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> and not to the list.
__ YES, I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS.
__ YES, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE SECOND STAGE OF THE STUDY.
Additional comments:
