Sheryn D. Pitman|Christopher B. Daniels
Quantifying Ecological Literacy in an Adult Western Community: The Development and Application of a New Assessment Tool and Community Standard
University of South Australia|University of South Australia
knowledge understanding earth functions supports life create foundation ecological literacy industrialisation urbanisation population growth resulted changed relationships many human communities natural world potential consequence compromised capability make wellinformed decisions live sustainably gain measure ecological literacy within south australian community collaborated senior scientists educators develop apply instrument capacity determine indicative levels ecological knowledge understanding formal variable credit multiplechoice assessment instrument distributed online groups individuals within diverse community sectors industries quantitative analyses scores indicated levels ecological knowledge understanding within selfselected sample one thousand individuals ranged low extremely high majority respondents achieving moderate high scores instrument demonstrated capacity determine indicative levels ecological literacy within individuals groups able capture mastery ecological knowledge understanding achieved formal informal pathways using results able establish range standards aspirational target score south australian community value work potential deliver insights relationships humans rest natural world characteristics ecoliterate individuals communities might otherwise emerge