Explanation of conceptual relationship between variables of place identity, sense of community and environmental attitude by structural equation modelling

Abstract

Great transformations which are seen especially in urban areas lead to character and identity erosion in places, therefore collective memory disappears, as well. The relationships between people that are part of social structure are broken since losing of place identity and collective memory and accordingly sense of community disappears. Spatial awareness and environmental consciousness that increased after the industrial revolution have been discussed since from 1970’s in the sustainability framework. The concept of environmental attitude which is used to explain of environmental behavior is resulted from a particular consciousness and awareness. Aim of this study is put forward that the experimental relationship between identity perception, sense of community and environmental attitude. Interviews were conducted with 121 inhabitants of Duzce – Kultur Neighborhood that the study area. As a research method, it was applied to structural equation modelling which is used to test relationship between latent variables in social sciences. Consequently, it was determined that the concepts of place identity, sense of community and environmental attitude influence on each other.

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