Environmental Problem-Solving Ability: Profiles in Application Documents of Research Assistants

Abstract

The concept of environmental problem-solving ability is introduced. The development of this ability is the educational goal of the Department of Environmental Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ). A content analysis of documents submitted by 139 applicants was undertaken to determine their qualifications for the position of research assistant. Emphasis was placed on the development of comparable criteria to judge the the applicants' ability to solve environmental problems. Cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling were used to separate candidates who showed higher ratings for environmental problem solving. Those applicants differed significantly in their biographical data and qualifications. The ideal profile, however, was not found in this sample.