Qualitative Exploration of Adolescent`s Understanding of "Environmentally Firiendy" Behavior

Abstract

Significant amount of research has been conducted on pro-environmental behaviour of adults and factors that determine it such as habits, knowledge about consequences of their actions that are affecting environment (Bamberg & Moser, 2007; Klockner, 2013; Klockner & Blobaum, 2010; Steg & Vleg, 2009). Several studies examined the factors behind adults involvement in pro-environmeantal behavior, such as  moral and perceived social norms, values and conformity with typical behaviour of their social groups (Steg, 2016; Thogersen, 2006). However, only a small number of studies address children whose moral development is in the first stages (Kos et al., 2016; Bardi & Goodwin, 2011). Children are not born knowing what it means to be “environmentally friendly”. This moral understanding comes through nurturing and socialization processes – by observing others and combining observed examples into a whole understanding about what pro-environmental behaviour is and how to act “environmentally friendly” in different situations (Kos et al., 2016). However, children’s and adolescents reflections on what it means to be “environmentally friendly”, have been under-studied. Therefore, the aim of this study is to (1) to explore how children and adolescents understand and (2) at which age children and adolescents are capable to reflect “environmentally-friendly” behaviour using qualitative methods. Semi-structured interviews with children (under 11 years) and teenagers (above 11 years) will be conducted. These data will be analyzed through thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006).