As shown in Table 9, there was no item nonresponse for question 8, that is, all five items were answered by the 240 subjects. The subjects used the full range of the response scale for all items. The majority of respondents agreed with the construction of wind turbines, an underground high-voltage line and a large-scale solar plant (item a: 62 %, item b: 59 %, item d: 67 %). In contrast, more re-spondents disagreed than agreed with the construction of a high-voltage transmission line with masts and a modern nuclear power plant (item c: 44 % vs. 22 %, item e: 55 % vs. 26 %). Furthermore, for items b and c, the proportion of respondents selecting the middle category was relatively high (item b: 28 %, item c: 34 %).
The aim of the pretest was to investigate whether the respondents were aware of the connection be-tween the infrastructure measures mentioned in items b, c and e and climate protection and whether the reasons given for their answers matched the selected scale values. The corresponding cognitive probes (N1_F8, see Appendix) were asked of the 116 subjects who were (randomly) assigned to Group 2. About one-third of these subjects received a probe on items b, c, and e, respectively.
The connection between the mentioned infrastructure measures and climate protection was only questioned by one test person (TP365) in item c ("High-voltage lines with masts are the normal state, aren't they? Why in the context of a climate-friendly energy policy?", answer: neither agree nor disagree). No other test person commented on the connection between the items and climate protection.
With the exception of a few test persons who did not give evaluable answers to the cognitive follow-up questions, the respondents' justifications matched the respective selected scale values.
The results of the pretest do not indicate any problems with the question. Nevertheless, we recommend that the response scale be adjusted to clarify that this question is about approval or disapproval of climate protection measures and not about agreement with specific statements:
Would you approve or disapprove if, as part of a climate-friendly energy policy in your area,...
Response options: Would I... strongly approve, rather approve, neither approve nor disap-prove, rather disapprove, strongly disapprove
| Item Text | Actively tested |
|---|---|
|
|
No |
b. ...a high-voltage line was to be laid underground?Item Text:Recommendations:
The results of the pretest do not indicate any problems with the item, so it can be left in its current form.
Findings:A negative attitude toward the laying of high-voltage lines underground (item b) was mostly justified by doubts about their safety, that they were less efficient than above-ground lines and not sustainable, or that the necessary construction measures were rejected. Respondents who were in favor of the infrastructure measures justified this by saying that undergrounding would be practical, safe, and not visually disruptive:
Question Topic:
Environment/ Climate protection
Construct:Acceptance of infrastructural climate protection measures
|
Yes |
c. ...a high-voltage power line with masts was to be built?Item Text:Recommendations:
The results of the pretest do not indicate any problems with the item, so it can be left in its current form.
Findings:For item c, a negative attitude was justified by the fact that high-voltage lines with masts (especially during storms) posed a danger and were visually disturbing. Those who agreed with the item mainly justified this with the necessity of masts for the power supply or with the fact that they were the rule and people had already become accustomed to them:
Question Topic:
Environment/ Climate protection
Construct:Acceptance of infrastructural climate protection measures
|
Yes |
|
|
No |
e. ...a modern nuclear power plant was to be put into operation?Item Text:Recommendations:
The results of the pretest do not indicate any problems with the item, so it can be left in its current form.
Findings:For item e, test persons who disagreed with the statement mostly justified their answers with the danger of nuclear accidents or with the fact that nuclear power is an outdated and environmentally harmful technology. In contrast, test persons who agreed with the statement argued that nuclear power is clean energy, that modern nuclear power plants are safe, or that nuclear energy is necessary because the exclusive supply of green electricity is not sufficient:
Question Topic:
Environment/ Climate protection
Construct:Acceptance of infrastructural climate protection measures
|
Yes |
