Values & Environmental Perspectives (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Revision Note

Understanding Values

What are values?

  • Values are qualities or principles that people believe have worth and importance in life

    • They guide our behaviours, attitudes and decisions

    • Examples include honesty, integrity, fairness and compassion

Influence of values

  • Values affect people’s priorities, judgements, perspectives and choices

    • They are deeply personal, but a variety of cultural and social factors also play a role.

    • For example, in some cultures, respect for elders is highly valued, shaping how individuals interact within society

    • In line with the principles of sustainability and conservation, movements like Greta Thunberg's Fridays for the Future call for immediate action on climate change

Values in community

  • Within our communities, we share and shape our values

    • They are reflected in how we communicate and interact with others, both within our own community and with external communities

    • For example, a community that values environmental sustainability may organise clean-up events or support green policies

Values in organisations

  • Organisations also have values, which can be seen in their communication and actions

    • These values are often expressed through advertisements, social media, policies and organisational decisions

      • For example, a company that values diversity and inclusion may have policies supporting equal opportunities and representation in their workforce

    • Companies like Patagonia demonstrate values of environmental stewardship through initiatives like donating a portion of profits to environmental causes

Tensions from different values

  • Different values often lead to tensions between individuals or between organisations

    • Conflicts can happen when important values clash, like when some people want to freely express themselves but others want to be respectful of different cultures

    • In multicultural societies, navigating these tensions requires understanding and respecting diverse values

Value Surveys

Understanding perspectives on environmental issues

  • Values surveys investigate the perspectives of social groups towards various environmental issues

  • They help us understand how environmental concerns are viewed and prioritised by individuals or communities

    • For example, a survey could explore attitudes towards renewable energy adoption, waste reduction, or conservation efforts

    • Another survey could ask about attitudes towards using public transportation to reduce carbon emissions

Effective design of value surveys

  • A well-designed environmental value survey is able to:

    • Take different viewpoints into account

    • Look at the whole range of opinions within a group about environmental matters

  • The results of an effective survey should be able to:

    • Give insights into attitudes, beliefs and values that influence how people view and respond to local and global environmental challenges

Implementation of surveys

  • Surveys, questionnaires, or interviews can be used to gather data on environmental attitudes

    • Using online survey tools can be very useful for:

      • Collecting data from a wider audience

      • Collecting a greater volume of data

      • Collecting data in a shorter amount of time

      • Efficient analysis of data

  • Closed-ended questions are good for quantitative analysis (i.e. they provide structured data that can be easily quantified and analysed statistically)

  • Closed-ended questions are those that provide respondents with a fixed set of options to choose from

  • Examples include multiple-choice questions, rating scales and Likert scale items

    • For example, in a survey about environmental attitudes, closed-ended questions could include:

      • Which of the following renewable energy sources do you believe is most effective in reducing carbon emissions? (a) Solar (b) Wind (c) Hydroelectric (d) Geothermal

      • Indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement: "Using public transportation is an effective way to reduce air pollution". Strongly agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree, Strongly disagree

      • On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being very likely, how likely are you to recycle paper products?

  • Responses to these questions can be easily quantified (given a value or score)

    • This allows statistical analysis to be used on the data

    • This helps identify trends, correlations and patterns in attitudes towards specific environmental issues

      • For example, there is an environmental education campaign designed to increase recycling rates

      • It is important to measure the effectiveness of this campaign

      • A survey can be used to collect quantitative data on attitudes towards recycling

      • This can then be correlated with data on actual actual recycling rates

  • Surveys or interviews can also include open-ended questions to help capture more detailed responses

    • These types of response are more difficult to analyse

    • However, they can still be valuable for gaining deeper insights into individual viewpoints

Behaviour-time graphs

  • If value surveys are repeated over time, the results can be used to produce behaviour-time graphs

  • Behaviour-time graphs show changes in behaviours or lifestyles over time

    • They help to visualise trends, patterns and shifts in behaviour related to environmental actions

  • Behaviour-time graphs can track changes in daily habits over a set period of time, such as:

    • Energy consumption

    • Waste generation

    • Transportation choices

  • For example, a graph could illustrate a decrease in household electricity usage over several months

    • This could be due to energy-saving measures like installing LED lights or adjusting thermostat settings

  • These graphs can also illustrate changes in environmental behaviours, such as:

    • Recycling rates

    • Composting practices

    • Water conservation efforts

  • Behaviour-time graphs can be valuable tools for:

    • Monitoring progress towards sustainability goals

    • Evaluating the effectiveness of environmental initiatives

  • They can help to:

    • Visualise the impact of interventions

    • Identify areas for further improvement

Line graph showing the number of whale species caught from 1900 to 1999, with peaks around 1930 and 1960. Includes data for multiple whale species, explained in a color-coded key.
An example of a behaviour-time graph showing the number of whales killed between 1900 and 1999
Line graph showing the number of landing, cruise-only, and total tourists visiting Antarctica from 1992 to 2020, with a significant increase observed in recent years.
Another example of a behaviour-time graph showing the number of tourists visiting Antarctica between 1992 and 2020

Exam Tip

It is important to consider the diversity of perspectives within a social group when designing value surveys and analysing the results. You cannot assume that everyone will have had the same experiences or facing the same challenges. This means their views may be very different, even if they are from the same group or community.

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Alistair Marjot

Author: Alistair Marjot

Alistair graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Biological Sciences. He has taught GCSE/IGCSE Biology, as well as Biology and Environmental Systems & Societies for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. While teaching in Oxford, Alistair completed his MA Education as Head of Department for Environmental Systems & Societies. Alistair has continued to pursue his interests in ecology and environmental science, recently gaining an MSc in Wildlife Biology & Conservation with Edinburgh Napier University.