Cogent Education (Dec 2022)

Establishing the value-psychological-educational dimensions for “learning to action” model for pro-environmental behaviour

  • Noremy Md. Akhir,
  • Ang Wei Lun,
  • Chan Mee Yeang,
  • Norshairani Abd Rahman,
  • Lilia Halim

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2022.2156748
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1

Abstract

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AbstractPro-environmental behaviour is imperative to promote sustainable management and consumption of energy in the fight against climate change. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has been widely used to explain and predict behaviour in a multitude of behavioural domains including pro-environmental behaviour. However, the TPB does not prioritise the influence of knowledge and habits on pro-environmental behaviour. Past studies also confirmed the influence of cultural factors in predicting environmental intent and behaviour, which were not covered by TPB. Considering that Malaysia is a multicultural country, on top of the environmental education factors, cognitive competencies, and affective factors, the influence of values that contribute to the pro-environmental intention behaviour on energy conservation has also to be considered. Hence, this study employed Fuzzy Delphi Method to determine the indicators explaining the effects of educational and psychological factors on pro-environmental behaviour. It was hypothesized that educational factors, cognitive competencies and affective factors influence secondary students’ pro-environmental behaviour on energy conservation. The students’ cultural viewpoint was also proposed as the regulating effect on their energy conservation behaviour. A total of 25 experts were selected to validate the questionnaire developed. The items/constructs developed were environmental factors (formal, non-formal and informal educations), cognitive factors, affective factors (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control and civic values) and environmental conservation behaviour. The value construct, which comprised of values of empathy, respect, cooperation, responsibility, justice, equality, integrity, and altruism. Majority of the items/constructs were accepted by the experts. This reflects that the items/constructs developed were relevant to the study as the experts agreed with these items/constructs.

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