COVER VOL 8 FINAL


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New Ecological Paradigm: 
Testing the Environmental Concern 

Among Urban Middle Income Cebu City 
Household Heads

MARY GRETCHEN F. CHAVES
marygretchenfchaves@yahoo.com.ph
UP Cebu Management Division

Cebu, Philippines

Abstract - This study evaluates the level of environment concern 
among middle income Cebu City household heads using the 15-
item New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale developed by Dunlap et 
al (2000). Environment concern as a pro-environmental attitudinal 
construct reflects a person’s eco-centric orientation. The NEP scale 
is a globally accepted methodological assessment for pro-ecological 
worldview wherein the more an individual agrees with the NEP 
items, the more concerned (s)he is about the environment. Also 
investigated in the study are the underlying dimensions (subscales) 
of the NEP scores. The results of the study show the respondents’ 
NEP scale items’ average score as “unsure” indicating neither strong 
or weak environment concern. Using principal components analysis, 
three subscales were generated, explaining 77% of the variance, and 
are interpreted in this study as “disastrous consequence of ecological 
abuse,” “delicate balance of nature,” and “humans subject to law of 
nature.” The study concludes that while respondents agree with 
the disastrous consequences attributed to ecological abuse, the NEP 
scores indicate low level of environment concern. The results of this 
study serve as reference to the recommendations raised intended to 
improve the ecological worldview among the respondents to favor the 
environment, particularly on education and information campaigns.

Vol. 8 · March 2012 
Print ISSN 2012-3981 • Online ISSN 2244-0445
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7719/jpair.v8i1.169
Published Online: March 2012

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Keywords - new ecological paradigm, principal components 
analysis, environmental concern

INTRODUCTION

More than ever, expressed consciousness of the environment has 
never been as pervasive and ubiquitously manifested around the 
globe, including the Philippines. Discussions about ecology-related 
issues resound all over as humankind is witness to the fury of mother-
nature’s backlash to the unabated consumption behaviors characterized 
as unfriendly to the environment. These ecological discourses have 
taken center stage, some of which tackle on consumers’ seemingly 
continuous and wanton disregard of their ecological footprint in their 
day to day economic activities.

There is no denying that consciousness or awareness of the 
ecological degeneration and the resultant consequences attributed to 
man’s lack of concern about the environment is ever increasing. Yet, 
awareness about the environment is one thing, and care and concern 
for the environment is another. Some studies reveal that people’s 
concern for the environment influences their propensity to engage 
in proenvironmental activities. Thus, knowledge on the respondents’ 
level of environment concern will aid in determining implications on 
proenvironment behaviors. 

In this study, concern for the environment among urban middle 
income household heads is measured using the New Ecological 
Paradigm (NEP) scale by Dunlap, Van Liere, Mertig and Jones, 2000. 
The NEP is a worldview used in social psychology which holds as 
its central theme the relationship between human activity and the 
biosphere. The NEP scale had been used in many other studies as a 
measure for environment concern. Some studies found the15-item 
NEP scale to have underlying dimensions. This study also investigates 
the dimensionality of the NEP scale scores of the respondents.

Tested in this study are two hypotheses, namely, (a) urban middle 
income Cebu City household heads are ecologically concerned, 
evidenced by high scores (agreement) on the NEP items; and, (b) 
the NEP scores of the urban middle income Cebu City household 
household heads have underlying dimension.



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FRAMEWORK

Environmental Concern
According to Telesiene (2004), environmental consciousness is the 

interest in and awareness of the environment and its issues, having 
knowledge about the state of environment and close interdependency 
of social, political, economical, and environmental processes and 
attitudes towards nature and society relations. A person’s concern 
for the natural environment reflects his or her values and influences 
the willingness to act on this value system (Bansal and Roth, 2000). A 
number of studies operationalized attitude towards the environment 
either as “environmental consciousness” (Schlegelmich and Bohen, 
1996) or “environmental concern” (Stern and Dietz, 1994; Roberts, 
1996; Roberts and Bacon, 1997; Straughan and Roberts, 1999). 

Environmental Attitude
Social scientists Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) define attitude as 

a “learned disposition to respond in a consistently favorable or 
unfavorable manner with respect to a given object.” Extending this 
concept to environmental attitude, it is presumed that people with 
positive attitude about the natural environment consider ecological 
care and preservation of environment quality. Schultz et al (2004) 
define environmental attitudes as “the collection of beliefs, affect, and 
behavioral intentions a person holds regarding environmentally related 
activities or issues.” According to Corraliza and Berenguer (2000), pro-
environmental attitudes are “peoples’ disposition, relatively durable 
and relatively organized, to pay attention to, be concerned about, and 
ultimately, to act in the name of environmental protection.” 

Environmental Attitude Measures and the NEP
Different measurement instruments have been developed and 

implemented in various studies which examined concern for the 
environment. Maloney and Ward (1973) developed the Ecology Scale 
which measures attitudes, knowledge, emotion and behavior with 
regards to the environment. Weigel and Weigel (1973) designed the 
Environmental Concern Scale which measures attitudes towards 
more general environmental concern. Stone et al (1995) created the 



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scale which measures the level of environmental responsibility of an 
individual. 

Sinkovics and Stottinger (1999) posit that “different instruments 
differ substantially with regard to the components of the construct ‘en-
vironment consciousness.’” According to Schultz and Zelezny (1998), 
the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale is used more often as a 
measure of general proenvironmental attitudes, and Stern, Dietz and 
Guagano (1995) claim that the NEP is “by far the most widely used 
and has been subject to the most methodological assessment.”

Developed by Dunlap and VanLiere (1978), the NEP originally 
comprised 12 item statements and was developed to measure public 
acceptance about the then emerging worldview on issues on man’s 
ability to control and manage the environment, the limits of industrial 
growth in relation to the environment’s capacity, as well as on 
preserving and caring for the environment. The more concerned an 
individual is about the environment, the more an individual is inclined 
to approve the statements in the NEP scale. 

Subsequently, the scale had been improved to what is currently a 
15-item New Ecological Paradigm scale, now reflecting a perspective 
that recognizes the relationship between man, society and the environ-
ment. The new NEP scale was designed to “tap a wider range of facets 
of an ecological worldview, offers a balanced set of pro- and anti-NEP 
items, and it avoids outmoded terminology.”(Dunlap et al, 2000). Ac-
cording to the proponents “a proecological orientation or ‘seeing the 
world ecologically,’ reflected by a high score on the NEP scale should 
lead to pro-environmental beliefs and attitudes.”

Dimensions of NEP
The dimensionality of the NEP scale scores had been measured 

in some studies which utilized the 12-item NEP scale. Dunlap and 
VanLiere (1976), the original proponents of the NEP found their 
scale to be uni-dimensional. However, Albrecht et al (1982) found the 
NEP to be multidimensional, along the following themes, namely: 
(1) balance of nature, (2) limits to growth, and (3) man over nature. 
In yet another study, Scott and Willis (1994) found two underlying 
dimensions in the NEP scale, namely: (1) human with nature, and (2) 
balance with nature – limits to growth. On the other hand, Roberts 



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and Bacon (1997), in exploring the relationship between environment 
concern and ecologically conscious consumer behavior, found four 
dimensions, namely: (1) balance of nature, (2) God and nature, (3) 
limits to growth, and (4) adaptation before modification. 

While different studies may have found varying dimensions of the 
NEP scales, Dunlap et al (2000) issued a caveat that the decision to take 
the NEP as a single variable or to reduce the scale into its underlying 
structure should depend on the results of the individual study.

OBJECTIVES

This study maps out the level of environment concern among 
urban middle income Cebu City household heads using the NEP scale. 
Specifically, the study aims to: (1) measure the extent of environment 
concern of the respondents; and, (2) find out the underlying dimensions 
of the respondents’ NEP scale scores.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this study, a stratified random sampling survey was administered 
among urban upper-middle and lower-middle income household 
decision makers in the top ten most populated urban villages in Cebu 
City with the use of a structured questionnaire. The sample size of 500 
respondents was determined using the formula for stratified random 
sampling, computing for the overall sample size and proportionally 
allocating among the SEC upper C and SEC lower C socioeconomic 
class stratification. The sample size was computed applying the two-
step guidelines of Parel (1978) on proportional stratified sampling. 

The sampling frame used was list of homeowners in the respective 
chosen subdivisions and residential areas. The survey instrument is 
composed of five sections, one of which is the NEP scale comprising 
fifteen statements on a five-point likert-type response category which 
is used to measure environment concern. The other sections of the 
questionnaire include the respondents’ classification items, which 
include sex, age, education level and income. 

Appendix A shows the 15-item NEP scale. The questionnaire 



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instruction was for the respondents to express their degree of 
agreement and disagreement with each of the 15 NEP statements 
with the following responses (SA = strongly agree, MA = mildly agree, 
U = unsure/neither agree nor disagree, MD = mildly disagree, SD = 
strongly disagree). Some statements (NEP items 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14 and 
15) were stated in reverse (and thus scored in reverse). Disagreement 
with those NEP items and agreement with NEP items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 
10, and12 indicate eco-centric world view, and thus, concern for the 
environment.

To test the first hypotheses, descriptive analysis was applied. The 
respondents were asked to indicate their responses in a likert scale 
from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” Agreement with NEP 
items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, and12 and disagreement with NEP items 
number 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14 and 15 indicate concern for the environment. 
Scores for the disagreement with NEP items were reversed. To test the 
second hypothesis, principal components analysis was used to explore 
the dimensionality of the NEP scale scores.

For each of the NEP scale items, a transmutation equivalent was 
designed, with an equal interval of 0.80, such that the resultant means 
of the NEP items may fall under the following categories: 1-1.80 – 
Strongly Disagree; 1.81-2.61 – Mildly Disagree; 2.62-3.42 – Unsure; 3.43-
4.23 – Mildly Agree; and 4.24-5 – Strongly Agree.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Respondent Classification
Descriptive frequency analysis was done to reduce the respondent 

classification data. Seventy one percent (71.2%) of the respondents 
were between 21 to 50 years old, and about seventeen percent (16.6%) 
were between 51 to 60 years. Fifty four percent (54%) were males, 
and the rest were female. Fifty percent (49.6%) finished college, while 
another 22% finished some college. Seventeen percent (17%) reached 
up to high school only. In terms of household monthly income, 
seventy eight percent (78.2%) were in the broad SEC C (PhP8,000 – 
PhP30,000) category, while the 22%were in the upper SEC C (PhP 
30,001 – PhP 50,000). Figures 1 to 4 show the frequency distribution of 
the classification variables.
Hypothesis #1 Urban middle income Cebu City household heads are 



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ecologically concerned, evidenced by high scores (agreement) on the 
NEP items

Appendix A shows the mean scores of the NEP items, with the 
average NEP score of 3.2. The transmutation equivalent of this score 
suggests that the respondents are “unsure”, that is, on the average 
they neither agree nor disagree with the NEP items.

Table 1 shows the NEP items with mean scores indicating high 
concern for the environment, while Table 2 shows the NEP Items with 
mean scores indicating challenged attitudes for the environment.

Table 1. NEP Items with mean scores indicating 
environment-friendly worldview

NEP 
No.

NEP Item Mean
Score

Std
Dev

10 Despite our special abilities humans are still subject to 
the laws of nature.

4.46 .81

5 Humans are severely abusing the environment. 4.34 .97

12 Plants and animals have as much right as humans to 
exist.

4.31 1.05

9 If things continue on their present course, we will soon 
experience a major ecological catastrophe.

4.29 1.02

4 When humans interfere with nature, it often produces 
disastrous consequences.

4.16 1.10

3 The balance of nature is very delicate and easily upset. 3.93 1.11

1-1.80 – Strongly Disagree; 1.81-2.61 – Mildly Disagree; 2.62-3.42 – 
Unsure; 3.43-4.23 – Mildly Agree; and 4.24-5 – Strongly Agree



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Table 2. NEP Items with mean scores indicating 
environment-unfriendly worldview 

NEP 
No.

NEP Item Mean
Score

Std
Dev

11 The earth has plenty of natural resources if we learn how 
to develop them. (reversed)

1.33 .73

6 Humans have the right to modify the natural environ-
ment to suit their needs. (reversed)

2.50 1.3

15 The so-called “ecological crisis” facing human kind has 
been greatly exaggerated. (reversed)

2.62 1.33

1-1.80 – Strongly Disagree; 1.81-2.61 – Mildly Disagree; 2.62-3.42 – 
Unsure; 3.43-4.23 – Mildly Agree; and 4.24-5 – Strongly Agree

Hypothesis #2 The NEP scores of the urban middle income Cebu 
City household heads manifest a multidimensional measure.

Principal components analysis was applied in determining the 
underlying dimensions of the NEP scale scores. The initial Cronbach 
alpha (0.466) on all 15 NEP items showed a low level of item-
correlation. Elimination of certain NEP items improved the Cronbach 
alpha (0.695) of the remaining NEP items, specifically, items 3, 4, 5, 9 
and 10. Appendix A shows the Frequency Distribution and Item Total 
Correlations for the NEP Scale Items.

The principal components rotated factor generated three factors 
using the size of variance criterion with the cutoff greater than 0.70 
based on Jolliffe’s simulation studies, namely factor 1 (NEP items 4,5), 
factor 2 (NEP items 3, 9) and factor 3 (NEP item 10). The high loading of 
the variables on the factor indicates commonality between the factors 
and the respective variables. These first three components are sufficient 
to describe NEP scale scores, which explain 76.77 % of the total 
variance of the original data set. Appendix B shows the eigenvalues 
of the generated factors. Table 3 shows the three factors with the NEP 
items 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10 that load highly on the factors, while Tables 4 to 
6 shows the specific NEP items that significantly loaded on each of the 
factors.



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Table 3. Rotated factor pattern

Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3

NEP 3 0.10752 0.90717 0.00318

NEP 4 0.80338 0.28979 0.05941

NEP 5 0.84687 0.07101 0.21046

NEP 9 0.30455 0.60082 0.31850

NEP 10 0.16529 0.11487 0.95601

Table 4. NEP Factor 1: “Disastrous consequences 
of ecological abuse”

NEP 
Number

NEP Item

4 When humans interfere with nature, it often produces disastrous 
consequences

5 Humans are severely abusing the environment.

Table 5. NEP Factor 2: “Delicate balance of nature”

NEP 
Number

NEP Item

3 The balance of nature is very delicate and easily upset.

9 If things continue on their present course, we will soon 
experience a major ecological catastrophe.

Table 6. NEP Factor 3: “Humans subject to Laws of Nature”

NEP 
Number

NEP Item

10 Despite our special abilities humans are still subject to the laws of 
nature.



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NEP Factor Description

The first two-item factor explains 45.43% of the total variance. This 
factor may be referred to as the awareness that humans are severely 
abusing the environment and the knowledge of the disastrous 
consequences of perpetuating this ecological abuse. The NEP items 
that loaded in this first factor are interpreted in this study as “disastrous 
consequence of ecological abuse,” as indicated in Table 4. 

The second two-item factor, explaining 16.62% of the total variance 
may be attributed to the anticipation that human kind is bound 
to experience a major ecological catastrophe if the current state of 
ecological abuse continues, aware that the balance of nature is very 
delicate and is easily upset. Table 5 shows the NEP items in this second 
factor which is referred to as “delicate balance of nature.” 

Finally, the single item third factor which explains 14.72% of the 
total variance suggests the respondents’ belief acknowledging the 
supremacy of nature over man, and man being subject to the laws of 
nature despite man’s inherent special abilities. Table 6 shows the single 
NEP item in this third factor is interpreted as “humans subject to laws 
of nature.” 

The NEP scale developed by Dunlap et al (2000) is used to measure 
how respondents see the world from an ecological lens, where “high 
scores on the NEP should lead to proenvironmental beliefs and 
attitudes.” The more concerned an individual is about the environment, 
the more an individual is bent to express agreement or approval with 
the NEP items. 

The results of the first hypothesis analysis indicate that on the 
average, the middle income Cebu City household heads straddle on 
“the-middle-of-the-road” in their ecological worldview, albeit strongly 
agreeing with four (4) NEP items as shown on Table 1. Their strong 
agreement on these items is suggestive of their knowledge on the 
supremacy of mother-nature over mankind and their awareness of the 
present state of ecological disrespect as well as the consequences of 
a major ecological catastrophe indifference towards the environment 
perpetuates. 

On the other hand, the respondents strongly disagree on three NEP 
items as shown on Table 2. A strong disagreement (score reversed) on 



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NEP item 11 (The earth has plenty of natural resources if we learn how to 
develop them) projects the respondents’ understanding of man’s ability 
to utilize the natural resources and their lack of knowledge of the 
finite state of the natural resources. The same thinking dominates their 
mild disagreement (score reversed) on NEP item 6 (Humans have the 
right to modify the natural environment to suit their needs). Finally, the 
disagreement (score reversed) on NEP item 15 (The so-called “ecological 
crisis” facing human kind has been greatly exaggerated) reinforces the 
respondents’ lack of appreciation of the earth’s capacity and its 
limited natural resources, and their cynicism of the ecological crisis 
propaganda.

The respondents’ disagreement (score reversed) on the above three 
NEP items reveals an anthropocentric stance, with their belief that the 
earth has plenty of natural resources and that humans are the masters 
entitled to modify the natural environment. With the backdrop of 
today’s current state and rate of material consumerism, respondents 
who may be unaware about the limits of the earth’s carrying capacity 
and its finite resources, may keep on believing that the earth has 
plenty of natural resources and that humans have the right to modify 
the natural environment to suit their needs.

This study’s results serve as knowledge base for government policy 
makers, implementers of the law, as well as green-oriented business 
organizations and advocates when clarifying to the middle income 
consumers the issue on the earth’s carrying capacity and its limits. 
Advocacy groups and the academe may complement and collaborate 
with government entities, together with the industries in ensuring that 
the consumers are made aware about the sustainable utilization of the 
earth’s resources and primarily making these consumers understand 
about the earth’s carrying capacity limits.

Bansal and Roth (2000) assert that a person’s concern for the natural 
environment reflects his or her values and influences the willingness 
to act on this value system. Thus, a country whose people manifest 
a high concern for the natural environment is expected to have its 
citizens behave in a manner that cares for the natural ecology. In turn, 
the country benefits from the efficient implementation of statutes and 
programs that favor the environment. 



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That the respondents further disagreed (score reversed) that the 
“ecological crisis” facing human has been greatly exaggerated deserves 
closer attention. This state of denial seems to be a disconnect from the 
respondents’ agreeing that a potential major ecological catastrophe 
may ensue due to man’s abuse of the natural environment. For as 
long as these respondents consider that the ecological crisis has been 
exaggerated, convincing them to care for the environment as well as 
to practice ecologically sound consumption behaviors shall remain to 
be an uphill climb. 

The results of testing the second hypothesis through the principal 
components analysis yielded three statistically significant and 
meaningful factors, albeit only five NEP items have remained after 
elimination in order to improve the NEP scale reliability. Extant 
literature (Roberts and Bacon, 1997) generated four thematic NEP 
factors, namely, (1) God and nature; (2) balance of nature; (3) limits 
to growth and (4) adaptation before modification. In this study, only 
the “balance of nature” seems to be consistent with Roberts and Bacon 
(1997). The dominant dimensions of this study namely (1) disastrous 
consequences of ecological abuse; (2) delicate balance of nature;” and, 
(3) humans subject to laws of nature” seem to reveal the respondents’ 
belief on the supremacy of nature and the disastrous consequences 
of the present state of human exploitation of the natural environment 
cognizant of the delicate balance of nature.

Having extracted these three themes should help identify and 
simplify the communication points to these consumers, particularly 
when reinforcing or even modifying their attitudes to favor the 
environment. Leveraging along these themes, education and 
information campaigns may focus on strategies in support of these 
consumers’ concern of the environment. For example, in the case of 
implementing the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law at the 
household level, the message directed to the consumers may emphasize 
that by appropriately segregating their household waste, ecological 
disaster may be averted. Likewise, the benefits of maintaining the 
balance of nature may be stressed when persuading consumers to 
prefer eco-friendly products. 



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CONCLUSIONS

This study investigated the level of environment concern and 
mapped out the ecological worldview among Cebu City middle 
income household heads through the use of the New Ecological 
Paradigm (NEP) scale. Using principal components analysis, the study 
also explored the underlying dimensions of the NEP scale scores of 
these respondents. 

The diminutive average NEP score (3.2, “unsure”) of the 
respondents indicates a lukewarm environment concern. However, 
increasing this level of concern is not without hope. An understanding 
of the underlying dimensions of the NEP statements may serve as 
entry points when improving the consumers’ ecological worldview. 
The underlying NEP dimensions have been interpreted in this study as 
(1) disastrous consequences of ecological abuse; (2) delicate balance of 
nature;” and, (3) humans subject to laws of nature.” Awareness of these 
dimensions simplifies and makes straightforward the communications 
strategies to these respondents. 

Policy makers may strengthen consumers’ current eco-centric beliefs 
and target possible modification of their anthropocentric affect through 
communication and education campaigns. When attempting to deepen 
this level of environment concern through education, information and 
awareness advocacies, policy makers, project managers and advocates 
may begin by focusing on these NEP underlying themes. 

With the current state of environmental abuse and degradation 
and the consequences of man’s disregard to the natural ecology, 
a citizenry that espouses a favorable environmental worldview is 
crucial. In the words of Corraliza and Berenguer (2000), people with 
pro-environmental attitudes“ pay attention to, be concerned about, 
and ultimately, act in the name of environmental protection.” 

Limitations

The NEP originally had been designed by its proponents as a 
measure of ecological worldview. As in other studies across various 
samples around the world that used the NEP scale, readers must be 
made aware of the use of a “worldview” instrument for an attitudinal 



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measure. It is prudent to assess the validity of the constructs 
“worldview” and “attitude.” Future related studies may utilize other 
environmental attitude scales to validate this study’s results.

Also, the weak inter-item correlations of the 15 items of the NEP 
limit the robustness of the analysis. Only five items remained as the 
other scales items had to be eliminated in order to reach statistical 
significance. Thus, future studies utilizing the NEP must ensure 
that respondents clearly take a stand on the NEP statements, i.e, the 
respondents must undoubtedly understand each of the NEP items and 
avoid yielding in to socially desirable responses. 

Figure 1. Age distribution of respondents

Figure 2. Sex distribution of respondents

Age of Respondent 

2.40%

24.40% 24.20%
22.60%

16.60%

9.80%

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

20 or less 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 60 above 60

Sex of Respondent

Male, 270, 
54%

Female, 230, 
46%



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Figure 3. Educational attainment distribution 
of respondents

Figure 4. Gross monthly household income distribution 
of respondents

Educational Attainment of Respondent 

4.20%

17%

1.40%

22.40%

49.60%

5.40%

0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%

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PhP 30,001 - 
50,000 (Upper 
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Php 50,001 - 
100,000 (Upper 

C2), 3, 1%



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JPAIR: Multidisciplinary Journal

54

10
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.



International Peer Reviewed Journal

55

Appendix B

Eigenvalues of the Correlation Matrix 

Eigenvalue Difference Proportion Cumulative

1 2.27147185 1.44029791 0.4543 0.4543

2 0.83117393 0.09526682 0.1662 0.6205

3 0.73590711 0.08526692 0.1472 0.7677

4 0.655064019 0.13983327 0.1301 0.8978

5 0.51080692 0.1022 1.0000

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