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Research Proposal Part I: Introduction

RESEARCH QUESTION

Among UHM undergraduate students, do climate change beliefs accurately predict

individual-level environmental behaviors?

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to legitimize data based on a similar study done by M.P. Hall

et al in 2018. The original study found three groups of Americans with different levels of belief

in climate change, and different kinds or levels of actionable behavior. Those most concerned

with climate change were most supportive of government action and those least concerned

reported more individual action. The current study will use UH Manoa students as subjects and

will reveal if the demographic data found in M.P. Hall et al matches our local student population.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Why is the study important?

This study will help us understand the relationship between belief in climate change and

the actions people take. Often, the burden of climate change is put on individuals who are

encouraged to take specific, individual action to solve it. Therefore, this study may also reveal if

those who are more concerned (and perhaps have a deeper understanding of climate change)

believe that communal action is more necessary than individual.

To whom is it important?
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This study is important to society at large. Climate change is going to affect everyone,

and the more we can learn about how people respond to climate change the better prepared we

can be for any eventual outcomes. On a more micro scale, this study could be important to UH

Manoa event planners, specifically those interested in engaging the student body with climate

change activities, as the study would reveal if individual or communal action is more heavily

weighted amongst students.

What benefit(s) will transpire if this study is completed?

As stated above, Manoa event planning could improve following this study. The Manoa

student body may also see the benefits of learning how their fellow students feel towards climate

change and climate action, which in turn may promote further action. Finally, society at large

will learn a little more about public attitude and action towards climate change.

REFERENCES
Hall, Michael P., Neil A. Lewis, and Phoebe C. Ellsworth. 2018. “Believing in Climate Change,
but Not Behaving Sustainably: Evidence from a One-Year Longitudinal Study.” Journal
of Environmental Psychology 56 (April): 55–62.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2018.03.001.