Draft Research Proposal and Literature Review. An investigation into Glasgow IC students attitude and behaviour toward global warming.

Student number: 0915522 Module code: PM002

Tutor: MacVicar, Anna and Dendrinos, Panos

PM002 Draft Research Proposal (20%)

Part 1: Introduction

An investigation into GIC students’ attitude and behaviour toward global warming.

In modern society, with the development of industrialization and urbanization that global warming has been emerged and threat to our society (Mikami et al., 1995:209).Houghton (2005:1343) explained that global warming is due to human activities causing gradually increasing of the average temperature phenomena. The main reason for global warming may be due to emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. Moreover, global warming is a process at some time in future may be quite serious (Berk and Schulman, 1995:1).Currently, climate change is occurring, such as the spread of desert and thousands of species of plants and animals become extinct each year (Kellogg, 1986, cited in Kellogg, 1987:131).Therefore, governments around the world and scientists are taking international action to control global warming (Houghton, 2005:1343).

The form of increasingly severe global warming is necessary to find out a link between attitude and behaviour. Based on the findings, government and other agency would know which course of action to take. The main aim is to investigate the GIC students’ attitude and awareness on global warming issue and its effect students’ behaviour. Through the investigation can find students will take different attitudes towards global warming and provide recommendations to the Government to formulate appropriate environmental policies to mitigate global warming issue. This project will research three questions:

1. What are the attitudes towards global warming among GIC students?

2. What are the reasons which affect GIC students’ willingness or unwillingness to taking action?

3. What kinds of individual behaviors GIC students generally have taken to mitigate global warming?

Part 2: Literature Review (600 words)

The government needs to know citizens’ attitude toward global warming which can help government design the policy of alleviating global warming (Bord, 1998:75). Through the analysis of the following sources, the government will understand currently citizens’ attitude and consciousness of global warming. In addition, it also can find some factors affecting citizens’ willingness to take action for alleviating global warming.

According to Boyes et al (2008:663), studies have found that people's awareness and behaviour are related. People's attitude to global warming will affect them to take different actions (Pruneau et al, 2007, cited in Boyes et al., 2008:663). Because the public attitudes of global warming are different that assessment of public attitudes on global warming can better understand their views and treatment of global warming policy discussions (Bord et al., 1998: 75). Therefore, raise public awareness and change public attitudes which can help people change behavior (Defra, 2005, cited in Lorenzoni et al., 2007: 445).

Lorenzoni et al ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Lorenzoni et al (2007:445) reported that people should take action to reduce global warming; otherwise it will influence human and natural systems seriously and irreparably. Human has been increased carbon dioxide in the air through human activities, including industry and agriculture. On the assumption that human continue to burn the fossil fuel and discharge more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which global warming will become increasingly serious (Kellogg, 1987:119).Higher global temperatures are expected to have a broad impact on human society and natural ecosystems, including sea level rise, small island states disappear and extreme weather (Leiserowitz, 2003:4).Therefore, people need to take action and sufficient for awareness and understanding of global warming (Houghton, 2005:1397).

According to Henry (2000:25), through the investigation, it shows that the U.S. and other countries majority people have a general awareness of global warming. Only a very small number of the public have not heard of global warming. Most people consider that they know the main reason of global warming and expressing concerned about global warming (Defra, 2002, cited in Lorenzoni et al., 2007:446). In 2001, the U.S. cable news network based survey found that more than half of Americans believe that global warming is a very serious problem. Subsequently, in 2002 survey, it found that most Americans believe global warming is authentic. Furthermore, they believe that increased carbon dioxide and other gases released into the atmosphere if unchecked which lead to global warming and the average temperature are increased (Leiserowitz, 2003:10).

Lorenzoni et al (2007:449) discovered that some people are unwilling to take action even though they realize the importance of global warming. The reason why people do not take action on the grounds is they think global warming issues are the responsibility of society and government rather than individual responsibility. Secondly, many people are reluctant to change their schedules and living habits. For example, driving to work has become unconscious habitual behaviour (Lorenzoni et al., 2007:454).In addition, some people lack of scientific knowledge that they did not believe the existence of global warming or believe global warming is a natural imagination and people cannot control it (Leiserowitz, 2003:58). Currently, recycling and saving energy are the majority of common people's actions (Whitmarsh, cited in Lorenzoni et al., 2007:447).

Alleviating global warming requires that the government's plan and international treaties restrictions. About the policy of the government, incentives and technological solution for getting people's support higher than the policy of raise tax (Shackley et al., 2004; Kasemir et al., 2003; O’Connor et al., 1999, cited in Lorenzoni et al., 2007:447). Leiserowitz (2003:179) indicated that the majority of citizens might support national and international policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they tend to be strongly opposed to higher energy and gasoline prices, since it directly affects their expenses. In addition, some people support of government's policies to mitigate global warming that provided these measures without requiring them to great change their life style (Bord et al., 1998:83).

Spellman et al (2003:218) explained that the government, education and media in Britain are always promoting public understanding scientific and environment the best way. Lowe（2006:2）claims that information may affect people changed their behaviour. The media and government through publicity which raises awareness and penetrates citizen's psychological (Lowe, 2006:25).For example, some disaster movie purpose is to raising people's awareness about global warming. (Kellstedt et al., 2008:114).Moreover, experts educate that people should reduce use air conditioning and cooling system in order to reduce the damage of ozone layer (Kempton, 1993:228).Purchasing high quality durable goods or reducing the use of packing and plastic bags can alleviate global warming phenomenon (Kempton, 1993:235).

Following the majority of previous studies which can be find people’s awareness of global warming and to explore which factors affect people’s attitudes and behaviour. This report object of study is GIC students. For college students, it may discover some additional factors affecting their attitude. In addition, college students may have different environmental protection behaviour.

Part 3: Methods (note-form/bullet-points)

This report will use questionnaire survey method. Questionnaire can widely collect related information and may get a large amount of data for analysis (Leung, 2001:187).

2. 50 students from Glasgow International College will be chose by the method of random sampling to answer this questionnaire. Saunders et al (2009: p226) reported that the method of random sampling is impartial.

Part 4: Ethical Considerations (note form/bullet-points)

It is important with the research that the following ethics will be included in this proposal:

Because the participants have rights to informed consent, participants will be fully informed about the whole project (BERA, 2004:7).
This research will be ensuring the content of research is confidential (Saunders et al., 2009:188).
This research will protect the anonymity of the research participants something which is the researcher’s right and responsibility (BERA, 2004:8).
This research will not create any stress, harm and pain to participants (Saunders et al., 2009:188).
Participants will have the right to withdraw (BERA, 2004:6).

References (minimum of five academic sources)

Bord, R.J. Fisher, A. and O’Connor, R.E. (1998, December 17th). Public perceptions of global warming: United States and international perspectives. Climate Research Clim Res, Vol. 11: 75–84.

Berk, R.A. and Schulman, D. (1995). Public Perceptions of Global Warming. Climatic Change, 29: 1-33.

Boyes, E. Skamp, K. and Stanisstreet, M. (2008, August 29th). Australian Secondary Students’ Views about Global Warming: Beliefs about Actions, and Willingness to Act. Res Sci Educ, 39:661–680.

BERA (2004). Revised Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research.Retrieved October 29th, 2010 from:

Houghton, J. (2005). Global Warming. Rep. Prog. Phys, 68: 1343–1403.

Henry, A. D. (2000). Public Perceptions of Global Warming. Human Ecology Review, Vol. 7, No. 1: 25-30.

Kempton, W. (1993). Will Public Environmental Concern Lead to Action on Global Warming? Annu. Rev. Energy Environ, 18: 217-245.

Kellogg, W. (1987). Mankind's Impact on Climate: The Evolution of An awareness. Climatic Change, 10:113-136.

Kellstedt, P.M. Zahran,S and Vedlitz, A. (2008). Personal Efficacy, the Information Environment, and Attitudes Toward GlobalWarming and Climate Change in the United States. Risk Analysis, Vol. 28, No. 1: 113-126.

Leiserowitz, A.A. (2003). Global Warming In the American Mind: The Roles of Affect, Imagery, and Worldviews in Risk Perception, Policy Preferences and Behavior. Lansing, Michigan: University of Oregon.

Lowe, T.D. (2006, December). Is this climate porn? How does climate change communication affect our perceptions and behaviour? Norwich: Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

Lorenzoni, I. Cole, S.N and Whitmarsh,L.(2007). Barriers perceived to engaging with climate change among the UK public and their policy implications. Global Environmental Change, 17: 445–459.

Leung, W.C (2001:187) How to design a questionnaire. Student BMJ Volume 9:187-189

Mikami, S. Takeshita, T. Nakada, M. and Kawabata, M. (1995). The media coverage and public awareness of environmental issues in Japan. International Communication Gazette, 54: 209-226.

Spellman, G. Field, K. and Sinclair, J. (2003, June) Assessing UK higher education students’ awareness of global climatic change. Weather Vol, 58: 212-219.

Saunders,M. Lewis, P and Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students. England: Prentice Hall. Financial Times.