Changes in the Stability Characteristics of Ohioans' Attitudes Toward Strip Mining, 1970-75

Abstract

In 1970, attitudes of the population of Ohio toward strip mining were sampled. Data from the sample indicated 44% of the population had stable attitudes toward strip mining—i.e., their affective and cognitive attitudinal components were consistent. A majority had negative feelings toward the industry. Unstable attitudes were found in 30% of the population with the majority having negative affective and positive cognitive components. In 1975, another sample of attitudes was taken. These data revealed a consistency of attitudinal components in only 30% of the population, and the proportion of the group with positive feelings toward strip mining was equal to that having negative feelings. Unstable attitudes prevailed in 60% of the sample with the majority again revealing negative affective and positive cognitive components. The latter study reveals striking changes occurred in the characteristics of attitudes of Ohioans toward strip mining over the five-year period