Title: Attitudes toward social and environmental scoring system: analysis of normative framing and individual influencing factors

Authors: Dominik Ahrari; Augustin Suessmair

Addresses: Leuphana University of Lueneburg, Wilschenbrucher Weg 84, D-21335 Lueneburg, Germany ' Leuphana University of Lueneburg, Wilschenbrucher Weg 84, D-21335 Lueneburg, Germany

Abstract: Scoring systems do not only aim to assess individuals' social and environmental behaviour and predict their future behaviours, but also motivate people to engage in score-improving behaviours. This study aims to assess people's attitudes towards exemplary environmental and social scoring systems and investigate the extent individual factors and normative 'emphasise' framing affect people's attitudes towards environmental and social scoring systems. A quantitative online study was conducted in Germany with 237 respondents. Fictitious scenarios from scoring practice were used as attitude objects. The results show that environmental scoring was evaluated significantly more positively than social scoring by the study participants. The results also indicate that individual factors influence attitude formation. The results suggest that the individual utility of the respective scores could influence the acceptance of environmental and social scoring systems. Normative 'emphasise' framing and the personality trait of narcissism do not seem to be relevant influencing factors.

Keywords: environmental score; social score; consumer behaviour; sustainability; governance; public management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2025.144682

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2025 Vol.29 No.2, pp.159 - 183

Received: 20 Jul 2022
Accepted: 14 Sep 2022
Published online: 27 Feb 2025 *

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