FACTORS PREDICTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN AND INDIFFERENCE IN 13-YEAR-OLDS TO 16-YEAR-OLDS

This study examined the relative power of sociodemographic, knowledge, and attitudinal variables in predicting environmental concern and ind ifference in young people, using data from a subsample of 1,089 13- to 16-year-olds who participated in a U.K. survey on public understandin g of science. The best discriminator between environmentally concerned and indifferent young people was self-reported level of knowledge abo ut specific environmental issues. Level of scientific knowledge and ex posure to television science programs were also powerful discriminator s after the social class effect was considered. In addition, attitudes toward scientific changes were a good discriminating factor, after th e effects of social class and knowledge were taken into account. Howev er, age contributed only slightly in predicting environmental concern and indifference, and sex and personal commitment to science made no s ignificant contribution. These findings support prior researchers' ass ertions that views about science relate to environmental attitudes and have implications for environmental education.