5. Results Part I: Descriptive Analysis of Manifest Variables and Preparation of Latent Components for the Lifestyle Analysis

Building typologies for the analysis of environment-related social research is a challenging task. The analysis of lifestyle and related GHG emissions involves a number of dimensions, which altogether reproduce and demarcate a quite complex but still tangible and therefore simplified and rough representation of a typical social-cultural group. It is a balancing act between the problem of lacking tangibility due to over-complexity and the compromise on probably important parameters that need to remain unconsidered. In addition to the core approach of the value- and attitude-oriented segmentation process (Sect. 4.​2.​5.​2), passive variables are consulted to describe and delineate the lifestyle clusters in respect to social position and behavioural and consumption patterns. To facilitate this second step of analysis, multiple ways have been taken into account in order to reduce the number of dimensions and simplify the underlying variables but still get the most out of these additional variables. The following sections will introduce the most relevant components, related data preparations and dimension reductions, as well as a first overview of the distribution in the overall sample.