The environmental action scale: Development and psychometric evaluation

The environmental action scale measures level of engagement in civic actions designed to have a collective impact on environmental issues. These actions are seen as distinct from personal practices because environmental actions are more collective in nature and focus on system-level change. The scale includes two sub-factors: one that is connected with what we are calling “participatory actions” and one that we label “leadership actions”. Each of the actions in the scale is rated for frequency of engagement. Following a rigorous six-step process, the scale was developed and proposed items were tested in a diverse North American sample. The scale was refined into the final 18-item scale which was tested on two additional samples; one international sample comprised of students from six different countries, and one consisting of known environmental activists. Analyses indicated that the final scale showed good reliability, and provided a valid measure of engagement in environmental actions.