An Enhanced Data-Analyses Method for the Graphical …
569
3 A Case Study Applying the GAUSI Instrument
in a Federal University in Brazil
This study was conducted within Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), a federal
university located at the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UFF was created in
1960, out of the conjunction of several federal and state higher education schools
already existent in the city (Monteiro and Azevedo 2009). For its history, there are
different campuses spread through the city of Niteroi, blending into the city community. The university is structured with three major campuses, which concentrate most
schools—Campus Gragoatá, Campus Praia Vermelha and Campus Valonguinho—
and some complementary isolated units within the city and in the countryside of Rio
de Janeiro state.
Second largest campus of UFF, with over 3000 students, the Campus Praia Vermelha houses the Schools of Engineering and Architecture, and the Institutes of
Physics, Computer Science and Geoscience. The campus architecture was conceived
so a central square connects all its buildings, which are aligned east-west, optimizing
sun lightning and ventilation in the campus. Parking lots are located on both east and
west entrances, with access to the main public roads, but preventing circulation of
privet vehicles inside the campus. Internal service roads connect the buildings and
were projected to not intersect with pedestrian circulation routes. All buildings can
be reached through the pedestrian pathways and are walking distance from each other
(Monteiro and Azevedo 2009).
Due to the great dynamic of knowledge and people circulation inside the campus,
and the vast diversity of higher education courses, the Campus Praia Vermelha was
considered adequate for investigating the institutional image of the Universidade
Federal Fluminense regarding its commitment to sustainability.
3.1 Sampling, Interviewing and Data Tabulation
For the purpose and viability of this study, Environmental Engineering and Environmental Science bachelor students were selected as the interviewed study group.
These graduation courses provide students with a higher sensibility and awareness
to sustainable development, which is believed to make them simultaneously more
engaged with the research and more critical at the university evaluation.
Respondents were selected through convenience sampling, according to their
presence in class, with no previous probabilistic intention regarding age, gender or
entrance year in the university. This no-probability sampling method is commonly
used in questionnaire application studies, due to the respondents’ willingness and
availability to participate (Anderson et al. 2011). This could induce results prone to
bias, although no student in this study refused to participate.
A printed questionnaire was applied in classes attended by both Environmental
Engineering and Environmental Science students. An introduction of the study and
569
3 A Case Study Applying the GAUSI Instrument
in a Federal University in Brazil
This study was conducted within Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), a federal
university located at the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UFF was created in
1960, out of the conjunction of several federal and state higher education schools
already existent in the city (Monteiro and Azevedo 2009). For its history, there are
different campuses spread through the city of Niteroi, blending into the city community. The university is structured with three major campuses, which concentrate most
schools—Campus Gragoatá, Campus Praia Vermelha and Campus Valonguinho—
and some complementary isolated units within the city and in the countryside of Rio
de Janeiro state.
Second largest campus of UFF, with over 3000 students, the Campus Praia Vermelha houses the Schools of Engineering and Architecture, and the Institutes of
Physics, Computer Science and Geoscience. The campus architecture was conceived
so a central square connects all its buildings, which are aligned east-west, optimizing
sun lightning and ventilation in the campus. Parking lots are located on both east and
west entrances, with access to the main public roads, but preventing circulation of
privet vehicles inside the campus. Internal service roads connect the buildings and
were projected to not intersect with pedestrian circulation routes. All buildings can
be reached through the pedestrian pathways and are walking distance from each other
(Monteiro and Azevedo 2009).
Due to the great dynamic of knowledge and people circulation inside the campus,
and the vast diversity of higher education courses, the Campus Praia Vermelha was
considered adequate for investigating the institutional image of the Universidade
Federal Fluminense regarding its commitment to sustainability.
3.1 Sampling, Interviewing and Data Tabulation
For the purpose and viability of this study, Environmental Engineering and Environmental Science bachelor students were selected as the interviewed study group.
These graduation courses provide students with a higher sensibility and awareness
to sustainable development, which is believed to make them simultaneously more
engaged with the research and more critical at the university evaluation.
Respondents were selected through convenience sampling, according to their
presence in class, with no previous probabilistic intention regarding age, gender or
entrance year in the university. This no-probability sampling method is commonly
used in questionnaire application studies, due to the respondents’ willingness and
availability to participate (Anderson et al. 2011). This could induce results prone to
bias, although no student in this study refused to participate.
A printed questionnaire was applied in classes attended by both Environmental
Engineering and Environmental Science students. An introduction of the study and