Axes | Themes | EcoTypes
Going Deeper
EcoTypes is based on three successive ingredients: (1) axes, (2) themes based on these axes, and finally (3) EcoTypes based on these themes. Let’s look at each in turn.
Take the EcoTypes Survey
You’ll receive your own personalized report.
The report includes your axis and theme scores, and your EcoType, all detailed below.
Axes
Axes are the fundamental ideas of EcoTypes. There are fifteen axes total: examples include Aesthetics, Diversity, Ecosystems, Nature, Science, and Time. Some may strike you as surprising!…but all are relevant to how we approach environmental issues.
Each axis has two poles to express the full variety of opinion on each. The EcoTypes survey consists of two statements for each axis, one—often strongly worded—representing each pole, as a quick way to get your own opinion. You’ll see a summary of your results for each axis on the EcoTypes report you receive after completing the survey.
EcoTypes Axes
The fundamental building blocks of EcoTypes.
Wide range of axes, from Aesthetics to Time.
Each has two poles to express variety of opinion.
Themes
Themes are statistical combinations of axes that address a common big question and embody a key tension in how we approach environmental issues. The three themes are Place, Knowledge, and Action.
These themes were determined via factor analysis of over 2500 responses to the EcoTypes survey. Factor analysis combines similar axes based on the biggest differences among respondents. Thus each theme also has two poles to express the key tension at its heart: nonhuman vs. human Place, old vs. new Knowledge, and small vs. big Action.
EcoTypes Themes
Statistical combinations of common axes from 2500+ survey responses.
Three themes: Place, Knowledge, and Action.
Each addresses a big question and embodies a key tension in how we approach environmental issues.
EcoTypes
EcoTypes are statistical patterns in theme scores among those who completed the survey. There are five EcoTypes: Small is Beautiful, Ecoscience, Ecospirituality, Indigenous Justice, and Science for Humanity.
EcoTypes were determined by k-means cluster analysis of the theme scores of over 2500 respondents. Cluster analysis looks for the biggest similarities among respondents. These five EcoTypes thus represent the most common patterns in Place, Knowledge, and/or Action. You can view a dynamic graph of these 2500+ data points as summarized via five EcoTypes!
The diagram below suggests how one of these EcoTypes, Indigenous Justice, mixes human Place, old Knowledge, and big Action.
EcoTypes
Statistical patterns in theme scores from 2500+ survey responses.
Five EcoTypes, each representing a common pattern in Place, Knowledge, and/or Action.
Diagram at right illustrates how one sample EcoType mixes the three themes.
Going Deeper
Going Deeper With Axes/Themes/EcoTypes
You’ve just read about the three sequential components of EcoTypes, and how they are constructed. But this information may have raised questions in your mind.
What are you especially curious about at this point?