Results
The metaphysical/ethical dimensions of worldviews (anthropocentrism,
dualism, hierarchy) differed by major (Table 2). On average, forestry
students scored lower (indicating stronger dominant views) on MI
(anthropocentrism) and HR (hierarchy) than non-forestry students. Both
differences were statistically significant, and relationships between
major and the measures were moderately strong for MI and very strong for
HR. We also found a moderately strong, statistically significant
relationship between major and mean BN (dualism) ratings, with forestry
students on average rating BN higher than non-forestry students
(indicating less dominant views).
For the ethics/epistemology dimension of worldviews (modes of moral
reasoning), we found similarities and differences between majors (Table
3). Virtue was rated highest by both forestry and non-forestry students,
while divine command was rated lowest by both forestry and non-forestry
students. However, whereas utilitarianism received the second-lowest
ratings among non-forestry students, it received the second-highest
ratings among forestry students. There was also a strong, statistically
significant relationship between major and mean utilitarianism ratings
(Table 2), and a higher percentage of forestry than non-forestry
students rated utilitarianism as their preferred mode of moral reasoning
(Figure 2).
For our final epistemology measure (attitudes toward humanities), the
sample overall reported favorable attitudes toward the humanities.
However, mean AH scores were lower among forestry than non-forestry
students. The difference in AH scores was statistically significant
(Table 2). The percentage of forestry students who would like the
humanities in their program was lower than the percentage of
non-forestry students, but this difference was not statistically
significant (Figure 3).