Study Subject: Environmental Sciences
Employer: University of East Anglia
Level: Doctoral
This fully funded studentship is available to start in 2011, under the supervision of Dr Charlie Wilson in the internationally renowned School of Environmental Sciences. (95% of research activity classified as internationally leading, excellent or recognised, RAE 2008). Funding is available for UK/EU students. Funding awarded for this project will cover tuition fees and stipend for UK students. EU students may be eligible for full funding, or tuition fees only, depending on the funding source. International students will not be eligible for this funding however they are still welcome to apply for the project but would have to find alternative funding.This PhD position is in the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, starting October 2011. The topic of the PhD is pro-environmental behaviour with an emphasis on climate change mitigation. The goal is to use different behavioural and/or social science research methods to ‘triangulate’ the insights gained from any one particular line of enquiry. This may involve the application of different behavioural theories and models. ‘Triangulation’ here could mean comparing, contrasting, integrating … or demonstrating that integration is not possible. Research methods may include: controlled (lab) experiments; field experiments; cross-sectional surveys; focus groups; interviews; in situ observation. Combinations of experimental and other methods will be encouraged.
The specific research question to be tackled using this mixed methods approach is open. It may focus on a particular behaviour, or pro-environmental behaviour more generally. Applicants are encouraged to propose their own ideas with appropriate reasoning. This may be through an outline research proposal (max. 1-2 pages) which can be attached to the application form. Such proposals should give a sense of how the applicant may use mixed methods as part of an inter-disciplinary enquiry. Examples of research questions include: (1) Does one pro-environmental behaviour make another one more likely (spillover effect) or less likely (saturation effect), and to what extent does this depend on the behavioural context? (2) Are physical visibility or ‘social visibility’ important determinants of pro-environmental behaviour, and to what extent are these attributes correlated? (‘Social visibility’ implies communication through social networks). (3) What influence does excessive choice have on pro-environmental behaviour, and how much is excessive? Eligible applicants should have: (1) an academic background to Masters degree level in a behavioural, public health and/or environmental discipline; (2) experience designing and applying one or more behavioural and/or social science research methods; (3) an interest in inter-disciplinarity and applied research; (4) a willingness to contribute actively to the Tyndall Centre researcher network. Initiative and the ability to think creatively and work independently is also a must. Applicants with practical experience of behavioural work or behaviour change interventions in policy, business, NGOs or other fields are encouraged.
Scholarship Application Deadline: 20 April 2011.
