1
Codebook
Attitudes towards the Environment and the Paranormal
October 2, 2010
Site ID = 8 = Fall 2008 Undergraduate class MB 313
9 = Fall 2009 Undergraduate class MB 313
10= Fall 2010 Undergraduate class MB 313
Respondent ID = 0-22
NEP1 to NEP12 - New Environmental Paradigm scale based on article “The New Environmental Paradigm”by Riley E. Dunlap and Kent D. Van Liere, The Journal of Environmental Education, 9:10-19, 1978. Note that Dunlap developed a 15 question version in 1992, but no one seems to use it.
Strongly Agree5
Agree 4
Undecided3
Disagree2
Strongly Disagree1
Missing9
NEP1 – We are approaching the limit of the number of people the earth can support.
NEP2 - The balance of nature is very delicate and easily upset.
NEP3 - Humans have the right to modify the natural environment to suit their needs.
NEP3R – Reverse coded (5=1, 4=2, 3=3, 2=4, 1=5)
NEP4 – Mankind was created to rule over the rest of nature
NEP4R – Reverse coded
NEP5 – When humans interfere with nature it often produces disastrous consequences.
NEP6 – Plants and animals exist primarily to be used by humans
NEP6R – Reverse coded
NEP7 – To maintain a healthy economy we will have to develop a “steady-state” economy where industrial growth is controlled.
NEP8 – Humans must live in harmony with nature in order to survive.
NEP9 – The earth is like a spaceship with only limited room and resources.
NEP10 – Humans need not adapt to the natural environment because they can remake it to suit their needs.
NEP10R – Reverse coded
NEP11 – There are limits to growth beyond which our industrialize society cannot expand
NEP12 – Mankind is severely abusing the environment
Attitudes Towards the Paranormal
Questions from a Gallup poll that has been administered a number of times to a U.S. population over time. The question asks whether you:
Believe in3
Not sure about2
Don’t Believe1
The numbers in parentheses are the number of U.S. respondents who said they believed in a statement in 2005 according to the Gallup Poll News Service (url: accessed 9/3/2008). 73% answered that they believed in at least one of the following statements.
Para14 – Psychic or spiritual healing or the power of the human mind to heal the body. (55%)
Para15 - That people on this earth are sometimes possessed by the devil. (42%)
Para16 - ESP or Extrasensory Perception. (41%)
Para17 - That houses can be haunted.(37%)
Para18 - Ghosts/that spirits of dead people can come back in certain places/situations. (32%)
Para19 - Telepathy/communication between minds without using traditional senses. (31%)
Para20 - Clairvoyance/the power of the mind to know the past and predict the future. (26%)
Para21 - Astrology, or that the position of the stars and planets can affect people’s lives. (25%)
Para22 - That extra-terrestrial beings have visited earth at some time in the past. (24%)
Para23 - That people can communicate mentally with someone who has died. (21%)
Para24 – Witches. (21%)
Para25 - Reincarnation, that is, the rebirth of the soul in a new body after death. (20%)
Para26- Channeling/allowing a ‘spirit being’ to temporarily assume control of the body. (9%)
Attitudes Towards Government:
ATG5 to ATG9 - Attitudes Towards Government. Note that questions are questions 27-31 on this survey. Labeled ATG5-ATG9 in order to match original study.
Strongly Agree5
Agree 4
Undecided3
Disagree2
Strongly Disagree1
Missing9
ATG5 – Regulation of business by government usually does more harm than good.
ATG6 – Government regulation and planning leads to bureaucracy, inefficiency, and stagnation.
ATG7 – The government has too much power over citizens.
ATG8- The government should not interfere with the free enterprise system
ATG9 – Government planning inevitably results in the loss of essential liberties and freedoms
AGE(Q. 32) – 1 to 98
99 = missing
GENDER (Q. 33) – 1 = male
2 = female
CLASS(Q. 34) – 1=sophomore
2=junior
3=senior
9=missing
ACTIVE(Q. 35) – In the past year, have you or anyone else in your household donated to or been active in a group or organization working to protect the environment? From Gallup poll as discussed in “The Polls – Poll Trends: Environmental Problems and Protection” by R.E. Dunlap and Rick Scarce, Public Opinion Quarterly, 55:651-672.
1 = Yes
2 = No
9 = missing