Reliability and Validity of Widely Used International Surveys on the Environment

Do existing public opinion surveys provide valid and reliable measures of attitudes towards environmental sustainability? This question is critical given the importance support for achieving sustainability. Starting with 28 survey items about environment drawn from World Values Survey Waves 5 6 2010 International Social Program, we assessed reliability by checking significant correlations between similar or identical on different surveys. Next, to assess validity, evaluated 22 objective indicators Environmental Performance Index (EPI). As level economic development a likely confound, also performed partial correlation analyses controlling GDP per capita. From initial items, identified 23 sufficiently but many these were found have low predictive power in validity analysis. Items air water pollution predictors conditions areas. asking relative problems compared other social issues good positive progress perceptible issues. general sentiment no clear referent poorly. When GDP, country-level more aligned country-specific conditions. Finally, nearly half all EPI associated few indicating existence ‘blind spots’ awareness. Our findings should offer guidance both developers users, as well policy makers responsible conveying information sustainability wider public.