Are we doing enough to understand our relationship with the environment? A bibliometric analysis of the instruments that evaluate pro-environmental behavior

Abstract

This article provides information on the evolution of research using instruments to assess pro-environmental behavior (PEB), based on a bibliometric analysis of academic publications from 2011 to 2023. The study shows that research has rapidly increased in recent years, with 538 articles published in 257 high-impact journals across various areas of knowledge. The literature mainly comes from the United States, followed by Europe and Asia. The most often addressed topics were green behavior, sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity conservation. Attitudes were the most addressed goal, but there is a growing interest in evaluating PEB from different perspectives. Surveys were the most widely used instrument to assess PEB, but it is important to consider alternative instruments such as interviews and focus groups. The study highlights the need for more research on evaluating PEB and emphasizes that the instruments used should undergo validation and reliability processes to ensure accuracy.