Online survey on biodiversity perceptions in 15 countries: Perception of 12 different plant and animal types

This online survey conducted in spring 2023 assessed individual perceptions of 2 types of edible plants (apples, bananas) and 12 different types of animal (fish, whales, mosquitos, butterflies, bees, gazelles, deer, wolves, dingoes, lions, leopards, pumas). Key variables assessed for each plant or animal type included Preferred Population Trend (if respondents preferred an increase, decrease, or no change in population size), Affective Valence (if respondents had mostly negative, positive, or neutral feelings towards the plant or animal), and Perceived Benefit-Cost ratio (if respondents perceived the plant or animal to bring mainly advantages or mainly disadvantages). Each of those variables was measured using a bipolar 5-point Likert-like scale. We also assessed demographic background information (region of residence, age cohort, gender, profession type, education level, dependence on nature, rural versus urban residence, affiliation with indigenous groups) and additional variables potentially linked to the perception of the plant and animal types considered (nature connectedness, familiarity with the plant and animal types, frequency of encounters with the plant and animal types).

Data were collected from approximately 800 respondents each in the following 15 countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Turkey, USA. Respondents were recruited via the Kantar survey panel. For each country sampled, we used quotas to obtain data that are representative in terms of age and gender composition. The resulting data set comprises a total of 12,194 usable questionnaires.

For more information see related pre-registration: https://osf.io/dnyfx