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Peer-reviewedCC BYSustainable Futures

Measuring circular engagement and transition readiness: development and validation of the attitudes towards circularity questionnaire (ATCQ)

  • Jeroen Dikken1
  • Rengin Aslanoğlu2
  • Qiuxian Li3
  • N. Cihan Kayaçetin4
  • Gabriele Masera5
  • Carlo Andrea Biraghi5
  • Francesco Pittau5
  • Chiara Piccardo3
  • Joost van Hoof6
  • Loredana Ivan7
7 affiliations
  1. 1Centre of Expertise Governance of Urban Transitions, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, Den Haag, EN, 2521, The Netherlands; Corresponding author.
  2. 2Department of Systems Research, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
  3. 3KU Leuven, Department of Civil Engineering, Building Physics and Sustainable Design, Gebroeders De Smetstraat 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
  4. 4Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, Bilkent University, Ankara, 06800, Türkiye
  5. 5Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, Milan, 20133, Italy
  6. 6Centre of Expertise Governance of Urban Transitions, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, Den Haag, EN, 2521, The Netherlands; Department of Systems Research, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
  7. 7Communication Department, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bulevardul Expoziţiei 30A, Bucharest, 012102, Romania
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Abstract

While circular economy research has made major advances in technological and material system innovation, the behavioural foundations of circular transitions remain poorly understood and insufficiently measured. This study develops and validates the Attitudes Towards Circularity Questionnaire (ATCQ), a multidimensional instrument designed to assess circular engagement across cognitive, normative, and behavioural domains. Following a structured instrument development process, expert-based content validation, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and structural equation modelling were combined. Data were collected through a stratified telephone survey among adult residents in Bucharest, Romania (n = 868). Exploratory factor analysis identified an initial five-factor structure, which was subsequently refined through confirmatory factor analysis into a six-factor model comprising circular behaviours, perceived circularity knowledge and competence, environmental concern, normative commitment and institutional trust, personal circular involvement, and professional circularity integration. The instrument demonstrated strong internal consistency and acceptable model fit. Structural modelling showed that normative commitment and institutional trust were strongly associated with circular behaviour, while perceived knowledge was mainly associated indirectly through personal and professional involvement. These findings highlight the importance of social and normative drivers in circular transitions. The ATCQ provides a theoretically grounded tool for measuring circular engagement and offers practical value for monitoring behavioural readiness and supporting circular economy policy and implementation strategies.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{dikken2026measuring,
  title = {{Measuring circular engagement and transition readiness: development and validation of the attitudes towards circularity questionnaire (ATCQ)}},
  author = {Jeroen Dikken and Rengin Aslanoğlu and Qiuxian Li and N. Cihan Kayaçetin and Gabriele Masera and Carlo Andrea Biraghi and Francesco Pittau and Chiara Piccardo and Joost van Hoof and Loredana Ivan},
  journal = {Sustainable Futures},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1016/j.sftr.2026.102252},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2026.102252},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Measuring circular engagement and transition readiness: development and validation of the attitudes towards circularity questionnaire (ATCQ)
AU  - Jeroen Dikken
AU  - Rengin Aslanoğlu
AU  - Qiuxian Li
AU  - N. Cihan Kayaçetin
AU  - Gabriele Masera
AU  - Carlo Andrea Biraghi
AU  - Francesco Pittau
AU  - Chiara Piccardo
AU  - Joost van Hoof
AU  - Loredana Ivan
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/30
JO  - Sustainable Futures
DO  - 10.1016/j.sftr.2026.102252
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2026.102252
AB  - While circular economy research has made major advances in technological and material system innovation, the behavioural foundations of circular transitions remain poorly understood and insufficiently measured. This study develops and validates the Attitudes Towards Circularity Questionnaire (ATCQ), a multidimensional instrument designed to assess circular engagement across cognitive, normative, and behavioural domains. Following a structured instrument development process, expert-based content validation, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and structural equation modelling were combined. Data were collected through a stratified telephone survey among adult residents in Bucharest, Romania (n = 868). Exploratory factor analysis identified an initial five-factor structure, which was subsequently refined through confirmatory factor analysis into a six-factor model comprising circular behaviours, perceived circularity knowledge and competence, environmental concern, normative commitment and institutional trust, personal circular involvement, and professional circularity integration. The instrument demonstrated strong internal consistency and acceptable model fit. Structural modelling showed that normative commitment and institutional trust were strongly associated with circular behaviour, while perceived knowledge was mainly associated indirectly through personal and professional involvement. These findings highlight the importance of social and normative drivers in circular transitions. The ATCQ provides a theoretically grounded tool for measuring circular engagement and offers practical value for monitoring behavioural readiness and supporting circular economy policy and implementation strategies.
SN  - 2666-1888
ER  -