From Development to Evaluation: Investigating the Competence Model for Environmental Education for Use in the United States

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the Competence Model for Environmental Education (Kaiser, Roczen, & Bogner, 2008), a theoretical environmental-behavior change model, for use in the United States with elementary-aged students. Paper #1 tests two new instruments developed for use with the Competence Model, the Expanded Ecological Concepts Questionnaire and the Revised General Environmental Behaviors scale. Paper #2 questions if student data generated from these instruments fits the model appropriately. The final paper investigates if the model can be used in the evaluation of environmental education programs. Based on findings of all three papers, the Competence Model is recommended as a strong theoretical and practical framework to be used in the development, implementation, and evaluation of environmental education programs.