Effectiveness of an Intergenerational Approach for Enhancing Knowledge and Improving Attitudes toward the Environment
Open Access
- Author:
- Liu, Shih-Tsen
- Graduate Program:
- Agricultural Education
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- February 25, 2004
- Committee Members:
- Matthew Samuel Kaplan, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Connie Devine Baggett, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Edgar Paul Yoder, Committee Member
William Carlsen, Committee Member - Keywords:
- environmental education
intergenerational
environmental attitudes
outdoor
environmental knowledge
senior - Abstract:
- This research was designed to: (1) assess the effectiveness of an intergeneration outdoor education program in enhancing participants¡¦ environmental knowledge and positive attitudes, (2) explore other program impacts on the participants and the environmental centers, and (3) learn about environmental educators¡¦ experiences and opinions in regard to utilizing senior adults in their programs. This study was conducted in two phases: (1) a nonequivalent-control-group quasi-experimental research incorporated with the Outdoor School program at the Shaver¡¦s Creek Environmental Center, and (2) a statewide mail-in survey with environmental educators in Pennsylvania. A triangulation research approach that utilized both quantitative and qualitative (e.g., student worksheet, senior personal interview, staff focus group, field observation) data sources was applied. According to the quantitative data, both intergenerational groups obtained higher mean scores for environmental attitudes than the monogenerational groups, although the difference in scores was not statistically significant than one of the two monogenerational groups. The qualitative data showed that senior adults have certain characteristics that allowed them to make a contribution toward enriching children¡¦s appreciation of the environment. Although the environmental knowledge level held by students in the intergenerational groups was not tested to be significantly higher than that of the monogenerational groups, the qualitative data suggested that senior adults did indeed make a contribution, particularly in terms of student learning about plants and animals, recycling, energy conservation, natural history, and societal change. Both the quantitative and qualitative data of the experimental research indicated that the inclusion of senior volunteers in an environmental education program has positive impacts on children¡¦s attitudes toward older adults. The results also showed many positive program impacts on participating seniors, such as improving senior¡¦s appreciation of children, knowledge about the environment, and mental wellbeing. The survey of Pennsylvania environmental educators revealed the educators¡¦ affirmation of the need to utilize senior volunteers in environmental centers for reasons such as increasing community involvement, enhancing participants¡¦ intergenerational understanding, and enriching teaching content. Respondents also noted various areas in which assistance is needed, including: recruiting senior volunteers, training seniors and staffs, and in planning activities that accommodate the abilities and interests of both age groups.