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Research Proposal on research on Attitude–behavior Relationship and their Implications for

Future Environmental Education Research

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Name

Instructor’s Name

Date
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Psychology Research Proposal

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

In the subject of environmental education, the relationship between attitudes and behavior (A–B)

has gotten a lot of attention lately. Apparently, this has been going on for a considerable period of time

(EE). This level of focus stretches beyond the bounds of the field in part because of an overreliance on

theoretical and empirical statements about how attitudes influence people's actions and how they change

over time. Through the course of this paper, we will look at reviews of studies on the A–B relationship in

EE and other domains, which commonly call into question the validity of these assumptions in many

cases (Marcinkowski & Reid, 2019). These include, among other things, questions about research and

assessment as well as issues about practices and development. When looking at A–B research, we must

first evaluate some of the most important findings from these studies in order to dispel some of the myths

that surround it. Some of the myths surrounding what matters in A–B trials and what can be stated during

such investigations may be dispelled as a result of these discoveries. The purpose of this research study is

to shed light on the prevailing or present knowledge when it comes to behavior and attitudes.

When it comes to environmental education (EE) and its research, there are many unanswered

questions, including: (a) the relationship between attitudes (A) and actions (B), and (b) how crucial it is

for educators and researchers to understand this relationship. Many goals in the area state that individuals

should improve both their attitudes and how they act, and they come from a diverse range of opinions and

ideas about what EE is actually about, including some that are controversial (Marcinkowski & Reid,

2019). Then there are doubts regarding what EE can truly accomplish, no matter how wonderful,

inventive, or revolutionary it may appear to be on the surface. Equality and inclusion are considered as

tools that enable people to become something other than who they were, are, or could be on both sides of

the aisle. In this case, it typically entails utilizing theory and evidence to argue for the deepening or

reworking of the relationship between certain attitudes and behaviors, as well as the adoption or

promotion of more environmentally responsible attitudes and behaviors than those that were previously
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prevalent. Assessment, evaluation, and research studies have been conducted in EE that have looked into

and evaluated the state and significance of A-B interactions in both theory and practice. Some of the most

cited and discussed publications and reviews have come from this subject. EE literature shows that there

was a great deal of interest in how people thought and act, and how they all interacted with one another at

one point in time (Hart 1981; Disinger 1983; Harvey 1977; Stapp 1974; Schmeider, 1977).

METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH

The study design that this paper will assumes is known as the meta-analysis research design. The

design is excellent because it helps in augmenting various study findings to come up with a concrete

research work. Analyzing the outcomes of previous research to draw conclusions about a body of

research (meta-analysis) is a quantitative, formal epidemiological study design that is used to derive

conclusions about that body of research (Snyder, 2019). Although not always the case, clinical trials that

are both randomized and controlled serve as the foundation for the research.

Participants

The research participants in this case were mature campus students who could be easily assessed

with less difficulties. The campus students were seen as the ideal option since majority of them are

mature and are the ones that are exposed to situations that entail a direct relationship between attitudes

and behavior. The ratio of male to female respondents will be 1:1 so that at the end of the day the views

will be balanced without any level of bias or discrimination. The sampling technique that will be

employed in this case is known as simple random sampling and the population needs to be divided into

strata because it is not heterogeneous in nature. All the students pursuing different courses within the

university need to be equally given a chance to be selected in the sample (Snyder, 2019). The sample size

in a population of 100, 000 people need to be 1000 research participants to ensure a free and fair

representation.

Materials/Apparatus
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Data collection will effectively be done by following all the requirement that are needed to carry

out the research effectively. The main data collection instrument that will be utilized in this exercise will

entail the issuance of closed questionnaires that have options that the respondent will appropriately select

according to their perceptions. It is only individuals who are willing to participate in the research will be

issued with questionnaires to avoid forceful participation in the study.

Design

The research design that will be employed in this case is a meta-analysis research design that will

comprehensively analyze the various views of the research respondents. The questionnaires will have a

variety of information that will eventually aid in making inferences that are up to scratch when compiling

the final results of the study (Dannels, 2018). The independent variables in this case are attitude and

behavior while the dependent variable is the implications for future Environmental Educational research.

The control group that will be deployed in the research study will include the lecturers and all the other

supportive staff within the campus premises.

Procedure

The main purpose of this section is to effectively demonstrate all the relevant instructions that

will be given to the research participant to guide them on how they will successfully participate in the

research. One of the main instructions that the researchers and research assistants will give to the

participants is that they need to respond to all questions in the questionnaire to the best of their

knowledge. In addition to this the participants will be informed that participation is voluntary and the

participants can opt out of the research whenever they fill like. The various target days will be assigned to

the different faculties within the campus to enable order and harmony when it comes to data collections

exercises (Dannels, 2018). The various responses will be recorded on the questionnaires and this data will
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later be coded into excel and SPSS (Statistical Software for Social Science). For the purpose of analysis

and interpretation of the results.

ETHICAL EVALUATION

Research ethics can be one of the most important parts of the project. A study   may even be

redundant if this part is not included. According to Bryman and Bell (2007), the following ten points are

the most important when it comes to ethical issues in dissertations: Research participants should not be

hurt in any way at all. Respect for the dignity of people who take part in research should be the top

priority (Crespi-Abril & Rubilar, 2021). Before the study, the participants should give their full

permission. The privacy of people who take part in research must be protected. The research data should

be kept private at the right level. People and businesses who take part in the research must be kept

anonymous. Any kind of deception or exaggeration about the goals and objectives of the research must be

kept out of the way at all times. To make sure there are no misunderstandings, affiliations in any form and

any sources of funding must be made clear. Any communication about the research should be honest and

open. If you don't want to give out false information or show primary data findings in a biased way, don't

do it. Respondents who choose to take part in the research are important (Crespi-Abril & Rubilar, 2021).

People who take part in a study can also choose not to take part in it at any point if they do not want to.

Respondents should take part in the study if they know what they're getting into. It is important for

researchers to give people enough information and assurances about taking part in their studies so that

they can make an informed decision about whether or not to do so, without any pressure or coercion from

the researchers. Respondents should take part in the study if they know what they're getting into. It is

important for researchers to give people enough information and assurances about taking part in their

studies so that they can make an informed decision about whether or not to do so, without any pressure or

coercion from the researchers.

IMPACT AND BENEFICIARIES

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Many of our ideas are really not that original in the first place. Because to Allport's work, a

considerable shift in how people think about the relationship between attitudes and behavior has taken

place since his time. At least in part, the "crisis" was sparked by the belief that one could use one's

behavior to assess whether or not the attitude concept was accurate. It was considered that the concept did

not hold true because there were no extremely strong and lasting correlations between attitude and

behavior. Analytical investigations were carried out in greater numbers, and the outcomes of these

investigations led to the improvement and protection of the concept. Clearly, attitudes and behavior are

not the same thing in this case, as has been demonstrated (Marcinkowski & Reid, 2019). It is discouraged

to use attitudes as simple substitutes for behavioral measures, and attitude theory does not imply that

attitudes will be the only factor influencing behavior.

A large number of meta-analyses were discussed by Hendee (1972, p. 10) when he wrote about

the implications of meta-analyses for research and practice in electrical engineering long before the first

one was conducted. When it comes to environmental attitudes, we are far too ready to assume that they

are the consequence of specific environmental education programs. This isn't correct at all. It's possible

that other socializing effects are more significant in the development of positive attitudes than what you

read in the newspaper when you're growing up. Researchers looking into environmental education

programs must consider how exposure to them affects people's attitudes toward the environment, as well

as how parental and home influences and personal traits, extracurricular activities such as Boy Scouts or

4-H, and other factors can cause people to differ from one another when it comes to their environmental

attitudes (Marcinkowski & Reid, 2019). Again, the purpose of this type of research is not to diminish the

importance of environmental education, but rather to examine how it compares to other factors in terms of

attitudes and values formation. It will assist us in determining who needs to be educated about the

environment and who does not. The most significant and least significant ways it affects people are as

follows: Only when we have the answers to these questions will we be able to devise the most effective
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methods of educating people about the environment in order to benefit both the environment and the

people who live in it.

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References

Crespi-Abril, A. C., & Rubilar, T. (2021). Moving forward in the ethical consideration of invertebrates in

experimentation: Beyond the Three R’s Principle. Revista de Biología Tropical, 69(Suppl. 1),

346-357.

Dannels, S. A. (2018). Research design. In The reviewer’s guide to quantitative methods in the social

sciences (pp. 402-416). Routledge.

Marcinkowski, T., & Reid, A. (2019). Reviews of research on the attitude–behavior relationship and their

implications for future environmental education research. Environmental Education

Research, 25(4), 459-471.

Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of

business research, 104, 333-339.