Concentration and academic ability following transition to University: An investigation of the effects of homesickness

This study examined the cognitive effects associated with homesickness. Theoretical explanations of the homesick syndrome suggest a major cognitive component in the form of a loss of concentration as a result of intrusive thoughts of home. Two attentional demand models proposed by Fisher (1989, Homesickness, Cognition and Health. London: Lawrence Erlbaum) are assessed: the ‘demand strength model’ which suggests intensity of homesickness will decrease attentional ability, and the ‘competing demand model’ which suggests degree of commitment to a new environment will be positively related to attentional ability. Students that had relocated to attend university were evaluated for evidence of homesickness using the Dundee Relocation Inventory (Fisher, 1989). Homesick students and relocated students that showed evidence of commitment to their new environment were compared on attentional ability and academic performance. Results suggest that homesickness may reduce ability to concentrate, but that this loss of concentration is not sufficient to cause a marked loss of academic ability.     

The transition from home to boarding school: a diary-style analysis of the problems and worries of boarding school pupils

The investigation concerns the impact of the new school environment on a group of 50 male and female children aged 11–16 years, who leave home to reside temporarily at boarding school, in terms of the characteristics of problems and worries reported and the incidence of spontaneous reports of homesickness. More problems relating to the school than to the home environment were reported but proportionally more worry units were reported associated with home problems for both males and females. There was no sex differences in this respect. The reported level of spontaneously reported homesickness was 16% and there were no sex differences. Factors such as age, geographical distance of move and decision to go away to school were not influential in determining the level of reported problems or incidence of spontaneous reports of homesickness. A relationship was found with level of problems reported and recent life history but the result proved difficult to interpret.     

大学生公寓文化建设的路径探索

如果说大学讲坛上的传道授业是教书育人,那么大学公寓中的文化熏陶就是环境育人。作为大学生学习之余的身心归宿———公寓,是学生最集中,其思想和行为表现最直观、最真实、交互影响最大的场所。不同文化认同在这里碰撞,多元价值取向在这里冲突。如何解决这些矛盾、发挥学生公寓文化的育人功能,探索大学生公寓文化建设新路径就成为当前高校学生工作的全新挑战。     

A comparative analysis of predictors of sense of place dimensions: attachment to, dependence on, and identification with lakeshore properties

Sense of place can be conceived as a multidimensional construct representing beliefs, emotions and behavioural commitments concerning a particular geographic setting. This view, grounded in attitude theory, can better reveal complex relationships between the experience of a place and attributes of that place than approaches that do not differentiate cognitive, affective and conative domains. Shoreline property owners (N=290) in northern Wisconsin were surveyed about their sense of place for their lakeshore properties. A predictive model comprising owners' age, length of ownership, participation in recreational activities, days spent on the property, extent of property development, and perceptions of environmental features, was employed to explain the variation in dimensions of sense of place. In general, the results supported a multidimensional approach to sense of place in a context where there were moderate to high correlations among the three place dimensions. Perceptions of environmental features were the biggest predictors of place dimensions, with owners' perceptions of lake importance varying in explanatory power across place dimensions.     

Mass media and environmental knowledge of secondary school students in Hong Kong

A postal survey on a random cluster sample of 1032 secondary school students in Hong Kong was conducted to investigate what and how much students know about the environment and how their knowledge is related to use of mass media. Results indicated that students were very knowledgeable on general and local environmental issues. The average score for environmental knowledge was 60.7 on a 100-point scale. There was some indications that students' environmental knowledge was shaped and limited by the reporting of environmental news in Hong Kong. Television news viewership had positive correlation with students' environmental knowledge while Chinese newspaper readership had a positive but weak correlation. Male students and students in higher forms were more knowledgeable about the environment. The study established a comprehensive measure for both general and local environmental knowledge with an acceptable level of internal consistency for subsequent studies.     

Systematic environmental reporting and planning: some lessons from Canada

Increased attention has been given by governments to reporting on the condition of the environment and deciding on ways of addressing environmental problems. Various activities of this nature currently taking place in Canada are described and assessed. It is concluded that the Canadian experience has many noteworthy features, both in the technical methods of production and the ways of incorporating diverse viewpoints into environmental reports and agendas.     

Place attachment,identification and environment perception: An empirical study

The relationship between people and places is characterized by affective and cognitive dimensions, defined, respectively, as place attachment and identification. This paper aims at clarifying differences between place attachment and identification by (1) identifying their predictors in a structural equation model and (2) exploring their association with the environmental perception. To this purpose, we conducted a research on a sample of 328 residents of a city in the north of Italy. Results show that the affective and the cognitive dimensions (1) are directly predicted by different demographical and psychosocial variables and (2) are strictly associated to the perception of the place and its inhabitants. Place attachment and identification are two distinct but correlated components. Semantic contents related to the environmental perception are described in respect to different levels of attachment and identification.     

Residential mobility and personal well-being

This research examines the relationship between personal mobility rate (number of lifetime moves/respondent's age) and health status. A contextual analysis is proposed in which the health consequences of relocation depend not only on the immediate circumstances surrounding a move, but also on the broader context of the individual's residential history, current life situation, and aspirations for the future. Two hundred and forty-two adult employees completed an initial survey of lifetime residential history, current residential desirability, employment experience, and perceived housing options for the future. Three months later, a panel group of 121 respondents completed a follow-up survey of emotional and physical well-being. Frequent relocation was directly associated with a greater number of illness-related symptoms, but the impact of mobility rate was largely mediated by psychological factors. Health problems were more prevalent among high-mobility individuals characterized by low rather than high levels of environmental exploratory tendency; among low-mobility persons reporting low versus high levels of residential choice and congruence; and among low residential-quality individuals who perceived future residential options to be unavailable rather than available.     

Implementation of a zero waste program at a university campus

A zero waste program was established at a university campus in response to grassroots student concern over environmental management issues. The implementation procedure consisted of initial discussions with academic and local authority staff at a university environmental forum, the formation of a working group, the preparation of a funding proposal and the establishment of an externally funded research, educational and promotional program led by an academic staff member. Support from senior management existed in the form of a written environmental policy and a signed commitment to environmental responsibility in tertiary education and university funding support followed the success of the initial funding application. Projects were typically conducted by paid research associates, assisted by student volunteers and supervised by a program leader from the academic staff. Co-operation and support from facilities management staff was obtained on an informal basis. A campus environmental committee was established in order to facilitate communication on environmental matters between the School for the Environment, senior university management, facilities management staff, academic staff and students. In order to enable full program development however, a need for linkages between all sectors involved in the program and the introduction of a formal environmental management system was identified.     

What Is Source Reduction? A Critique and Comparative Analysis of Polish and American Students

/ Source reduction is recognized as the preferred form of waste management, but its definition is ambiguous. This study proposes four underlying dimensions of the source reduction concept. Source reduction is foremost a preventive activity that reduces the number or extent of environmental impacts. Second, source reduction can prevent both resource consumption and pollution generation impacts. Third, source reduction may be viewed as both a producer and consumer activity. Lastly, it may include frugal and more efficient activities. In surveys exploring these fourdimensions, Polish and American university students evaluated whether 20 activities were examples of source reduction. The American students gave higher ratings to preventive activities over adaptive activities. The Polish students most prominently rated efficient over frugal activities. Factor analysis indicated that both samples identified a group of consumer-based resource conservation activities, with the American students recognizing a cluster of recycling activities. In a separate ranking of environmental protection priorities, the Polish students endorsed pollution prevention, whereas the American students favored both efficient and frugal resource conservation. These findings suggest that the conceptualization of source reduction varies according to contextual factors and that prevention is still an obscure environmental management theme. KEY WORDS: Source reduction; Pollution prevention; Resource conservation; Frugality; Poland     

Responding to Pressure on Local Natural Resources: the Story of Three Villages in South-Eastern Nigeria

There has been a recent move by development professionals away from formal “scientific” attempts to address problems caused by changing environmental conditions, towards a greater reliance on the innovative ability and indigenous knowledge of local people. This has necessitated a greater understanding of the way in which communities respond to environmental and socio-economic change. Using a model that predicts community responses to pressure on local natural resources, and data collected in three villages in south-eastern Nigeria, an attempt is made to document the way in which people react and adapt to change. It is concluded that with sufficient time communities will usually develop new resource management and agricultural systems. However, where change is occurring rapidly, a facilitator is required to encourage and accelerate local innovation so that farming and natural resource management systems can be appropriately adjusted before severe environmental degradation takes place.     

International education and sustainable development: an American experience in Bangkok,Venice and Guayaquil

Worcester Polytechnic Institute's (WPI) unique academic plan enables students to study sustainable development and the environment as part of an international educational experience. As a technological university, WPI requires students to complete an interdisciplinary project on the interaction of science or technology and society. This paper describes the environmental projects completed by WPI students, in Bangkok, Venice and Guayaquil. The lessons from WPI's experience provide a model for environmental education at other institutions. These interdisciplinary projects not only promote environmental awareness among students, but they also provide tangible assistance to regions which are developing strategies for sustainable development.     

Ten years later: The state of environmental performance reports today

In response to new reporting regulations and mounting inquiries from various stakeholder groups, the private sector gave birth to a new communications vehicle approximately one decade ago: Corporate Environmental Performance Reports. In just a few short years, these reports took their place among the most important sources of information regarding a corporation's environmental performance. Over the past decade, the content, production values and strategic approach of these reports have evolved on a parallel with environmental management systems and practices. This article offers an overview of how the reports have evolved, what some of the state-of-the-art practices are, and where the discipline may be heading. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Environmental Reporting by the Fortune 50 Firms

/ The extent and use of industry-reported environmental data are increasing, warranting an in-depth analysis of this information. This paper reviews the environmental reporting guidelines issued by several business and nonprofit organizations and evaluates the environmental reports published by the Fortune 50 companies, half of which publish reports. After describing the history of environmental reporting and the content of the guidelines, a comparative evaluation is made to indicate the types of companies producing reports, the topics reported, the intended audiences, the scope and depth of the material reported, and the effectiveness of the reports as communication devices. These reports are mechanisms to enhance a firm's image, public relations, and marketing and are aimed largely at concerned individuals, affected communities, and investors. Significant differences in the content and the depth of reports are seen as firms report on topics that are perceived by the public as high risks. The most complete reports are published by industries with poor or controversial public images, e.g., the chemical and timber industries. Still, no report provided information that was sufficient for comprehensive or comparative analyses of environmental performance. Recommendations are provided to increase the quality and effectiveness of environmental reporting.KEY WORDS: Communication; Environmental management; Performance reporting; Reporting; Stakeholder     

Connecting with Country in Mungo National Park,Australia: a case study to measure the emotional dimension of experience and place attachment

Connecting people with nature improves well-being, but how people connect with natural places is not well documented. We asked 43 people (19 Aboriginal Australians, 24 non-Aboriginal people) about the messages they received from Country during an interactive experience in the remote Mungo National Park, Australia, and analysed the physical senses, emotions and cognitive processes they mentioned. The physical senses mentioned by most respondents were sight, hearing and motion (particularly walking). These senses helped people receive messages from Country and connect with place. We used the primary-process emotional systems of Panksepp [2010. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 12 (4), 533–545] as a framework to capture the emotional dimension of experience. Most people reported positive emotions; they spoke about being nurtured by the group and the land (CARE), and the intense joy (PLAY) of being part of the community, being on Country and being accompanied by Aboriginal people. However, our results indicate the framework does not capture the breadth of positive emotions, particularly those associated with connection to place and spiritual experiences. Both groups mentioned cognitive processes reflecting their beliefs, existing knowledge, or sharing and acquiring new knowledge. Our results indicate that the emotional dimension of experience has the potential to measure connection to place, and provide a subjective measure of well-being. More research is needed to document this dimension of experience, and how it changes with context. Our case study provides further insight for those who manage protected areas and seek to enrich the experience of visitors.     

Environmental conservation problems in Kuwait

Summary Environmental problems in Kuwait arise from a number of factors: principally climate, population growth, industrialisation, transport and recreation. The impact of these factors on the environment is discussed in the context of growing awareness of the need for conservation of the remaining facets of Kuwait's heritage. The need to move from discussion of these extant environmental problems to effective action is stressed. Both education and the media have a vital role to play in sharpening awareness of problems and their solutions in the short time-scale left for conservation measures.Eric Caulton is Senior Lecturer and Ecologist in the Department of Biological Sciences, Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh. In April 1987 he visited Kuwait to undertake an environmental Impact Assessment in the south for the consultants involved in planning Al Khiran new town.David Keddie is an urban planning and economic consultant, and Associate with Roger Tym and Partners. He has worked for both the government and private consultants in Kuwait on various occasions since 1982.     

Assessing stock and change in land cover and biodiversity in GB: an introduction to Countryside Survey 2000

Countryside Survey 2000 (CS2000) is the latest in a series of surveys designed to measure and evaluate stock and change of land cover, landscape features, freshwaters, habitats and the vegetation of Great Britain. The ideas behind CS2000 developed during the 1960s and 1970s and culminated in the first survey of vegetation and land cover in 1978. One kilometer sample squares were selected at random using an environmental stratification. Subsequent surveys took place in 1984, 1990 and 1998, revisiting the original sample locations, whilst progressively expanding in scope and sample size; CS2000 included soils, breeding birds, remotely sensed imagery, freshwater biota and hydromorphology. Countryside Survey data may be interpreted using the pressure-state-response model, by selecting indicators of process and quality, and by identifying models of expected responses to different pressures. Thus, results showing losses of hedgerows between 1984 and 1990 stimulated new protection for these features. Ideally, CS2000 data should be used to stimulate experiments to distinguish between different pressures, in order to ensure that policy and management responses are both appropriate and achievable.The experience from CS2000 may prove helpful for the design and management of other large scale monitoring programmes of ecosystems. In particular, the scope of the survey, and the use to which the data are applied, have evolved through time, and yet continuity was essential for change to be detected efficiently. These objectives were reconciled by collecting the data in a disaggregated form, allowing a high degree of flexibility in both analysis and reporting.     

Environmental Auditing and the Role of the Accountancy Profession: A Literature Review

This review of the literature on environmental auditing and the potential role of accountants distinguishes between compliance audits and audits of the environmental management system. After an extensive introduction to the concept, this review focuses on the similarities and differences between an environmental audit and a financial statement audit. The general approach to both types of audits is similar, except that environmental audits are largely unregulated. Both audits place an emphasis on the evaluation of control systems, which is an argument in favor of external auditors playing a role in environmental audits. Another argument for including external accountants is their code of ethics. However, these professionals seem to be reluctant to enter the field of environmental auditing. It is argued that this reluctance is because of a lack of generally accepted principles for conducting environmental audits. If external accountants are engaged in environmental auditing, they should be part of multidisciplinary teams that also include scientists and engineers to avoid a too strong focus on procedures. Rather than treating these audits as totally different, it is proposed that there be a move towards integrated, or even universal, audits.