Open Access Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington
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Encouraging Sustainable Food Choices: The Role of Information and Values in the Reduction of Meat Consumption

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thesis
posted on 2021-11-15, 10:47 authored by Graham, Thomas

Meat production for human consumption has serious environmental implications, including contributing significantly to climate change. People’s behaviour about food choice, particularly meat, plays a key role in determining the future direction of food production. Meat production, in most cases, is more resource intensive and environmentally more expensive than plant based food production. For this reason, a shift in attitude about meat consumption needs to take place to reduce the environmental impact agriculture has on the planet (i.e. moving toward less meat intensive diets), particularly in developed countries. Attitudes and behaviour are influenced by values, which are guiding principles in people’s lives, making them important in the decision making process.  This research explores the role of information as a means of changing attitudes towards meat consumption and environmental concern and whether this effect depends on an individual’s values. Survey participants were assigned randomly to a no-information control group, a message targeting self-enhancement values, or a message targeting self-transcendence values. Results indicate that information can significantly increase concern about an environmental issue but did not change attitudes towards meat consumption. Furthermore, the framing of a message can play a role in how people respond to the information provided, given their predisposing values. Implications of this research can be applied to future environmental information campaigns, through the increased effectiveness of targeted information.

History

Copyright Date

2015-01-01

Date of Award

2015-01-01

Publisher

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Rights License

Author Retains Copyright

Degree Discipline

Environmental Studies

Degree Grantor

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Degree Level

Masters

Degree Name

Master of Environmental Studies

ANZSRC Type Of Activity code

970105 Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences

Victoria University of Wellington Item Type

Awarded Research Masters Thesis

Language

en_NZ

Victoria University of Wellington School

School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences

Advisors

Abrahamse, Wokje