Perceptions of the natural environment in undergraduate students: influence of degree programme and learning style

Abstract

 A study of over 400 first year undergraduates sought to link environmental perception with the degree programme being taken and their perceived approach to learning using a range of measures. A questionnaire was used to assess whether students had a strong feeling of closeness of association with nature; assessed their views on environmental issues and if they thought of the natural environment in a wide, ‘wholistic’ way or a narrow, compartmentalist way. Results indicated that their environmental perception varied significantly according to the type of degree being taken, with those taking natural science subjects and arts tending to perceive a greater closeness to nature, hold more pro-environmental views and perceive the natural environment in a more integrative way than students taking psychology and law degrees. Students taking pharmacy and biomedical programmes scored more highly on pro-environmental views than students taking either psychology or law but tended to perceive the environment in a more narrow, compartmentalist way. The students perceived approach to learning was not a significant controlling variable in determining their closeness to nature, to their environmental views or perception of the natural environment.