Faculty Members’ Attitude towards Environment: A Q Method Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal the attitudes of faculty members about the environment and to understand the reasons underlying these attitudes. The sample of this study consists of fourteen faculty members who work at an education faculty in Turkey. This study was designed by using Q method, which is defined as revealing subjective views. Although the data collected through interviews and were mostly analyzed quantitatively, the results were interpreted predominantly in qualitative ways. The Q sorting data for all participants were entered into the PQMethod software. Through using "centroid factor analysis", which is a factor extraction method that is frequently used in the Q method studies, "Q rotation" and "Varimax rotation" were used to determine the significance of the factors. After the analysis, the participants were grouped as comprehensive, protective, utilitarian-centered, and anti-benefit factors. The majority of the participants generally have an ecocentric attitude, while some have anthropocentric attitude towards environment. Faculty members’ attitudes were predominantly influenced by restrictive, subjective or general expressions in the survey, their own emotional structures, their fields of the study, and their religious beliefs. The findings of this study may have a potential significance for the future research with its unique methodology.