Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

1985

Publisher

International Communication Association

Source Publication

ICA Annual Conference

Abstract

A panel study of single-family homeowners in a Midwestern suburban community measured relationships among educational level, Public Affairs Energy Knowledge, Practical Energy Knowledge, reliance on information sources, and energy conservation behavior. Consistent with the Knowledge Gap Hypothesis, there is a positive association between educational level and gain in Public Affairs Energy Knowledge over time. Practical Energy Knowledge (measured at time-two only) also correlates positively with education. Respondents with higher levels of Practical Energy Knowledge had stronger correspondence between energy conservation attitudes and energy conservation behavior than did respondents with lower levels of that type of knowledge. Analysis of media use and Practical Energy Knowledge suggests that higher educated homeowners (in particular) gain this type of knowledge through more active information seeking. It is suggested that public information campaigns on energy saving strategies in the home do not provide the situationally-specific forms of information useful for home energy conservation behaviors.

Comments

Media Use and Energy: A Panel Study of Education, Knowledge, and Conservation Behavior. A paper presented at the Annual ICA Conference, Honolulu, HI, May 1985. Publisher link. ©1985 The Author. Used with permission.

Download

Included in

Communication Commons

Share

COinS