برنامه ریزی فضایی (Dec 2022)
Socio-cognitive Factors Affecting the Optimal Performance of Groups for the Protection and Exploitation of Water Resources in Isfahan Province
Abstract
AbstractToday, cultural capital and its promotion are emphasized in reducing and controlling social issues such as environmental crises. It seems that sustainable development, especially its environmental aspect, depends on cultural and social factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the cultural and social factors affecting the optimal performance of water resources protection and exploitation groups in Isfahan province. This research is based on sociological theories, the socio-psychological theory of Schwartz's altruistic behavior, Giddens's view, Moore and Maranz's view, and Stern's view. The research method is of descriptive-correlational survey type. The study population included all organizational forces and affiliated companies under the supervision of Isfahan Regional Water Company in 1400 (2021). The total number of statistical population was estimated to be 362 people. Then, 196 people were selected using Morgan's table. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics (mean, variance, standard deviation, minimum and maximum, frequency, and percentage) and inferential statistics (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling method) were also used. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 24 and AMOS version 24. The results showed that cultural factors (social trust, social participation, and water conflicts) and social factors (environmental awareness, environmental attitudes, and culture of improving consumption patterns) had an effect on the optimal performance of water conservation and exploitation groups in Isfahan province. Environmental awareness (with a Beta weight of 0.235), environmental attitudes (with a Beta weight of 0.555), consumer culture modification culture (with a Beta weight of 1.063), social trust (with a Beta weight of 0.830), social participation (with a Beta weight of 0.929) and water conflicts (with a Beta weight of 0.909) had an effect on the optimal performance of water conservation and exploitation groups in Isfahan province. Accordingly, the environmental behaviors of citizens and institutions should be eco-oriented and based on people's values, beliefs, and environmental awareness. Therefore, in the new management and practical actions in water sustainability and its environmental challenges, in addition to technical factors, the attitude and environmental knowledge of man and the cultural aspects of his behaviors should also be noticed. The result of this research showed that environmental awareness and knowledge and the weak level of social participation of local users are factors affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of water resources protection groups in Isfahan.Keywords: Environmental Awareness, Conservation and Exploitation Groups, Social Trust and Social Participation, Water Justice and Water Security. Introduction:Water is of fundamental importance in human development. Man's ability to control and exploit water resources to meet his needs has led to the emergence of complex civilizations. In fact, the spread of public belief about the occurrence of climate change is so great that when this phenomenon is brought up, every member of the society remembers their experience in this field. This research aims to investigate and analyze the level of social participation and environmental awareness and the modification of the consumption pattern and water conflicts on the performance of water resources protection and exploitation groups until the role of the mentioned factors from the point of view of these groups is scientifically measured and investigated. The main goal is to introduce these factors and their impact on protecting valuable water resources. Materials and Methods:In this research, a cross-sectional survey method was used with the two goals of description and explanation. At the level of analysis, the goal is to find relationships between independent and dependent variables and try to explain the changes or variance of the dependent variable with respect to the independent variables. The statistical population investigated in this research is all the organizational forces and the forces of affiliated companies under the supervision of the Vice President of Protection and Operation of Isfahan Regional Water Company, which is in the form of quantitative and qualitative protection and operation groups with different classes of subscribers. In other words, consumers of all types of water resources at the level of Isfahan province are connected. The total number of the statistical population was 362 people. Using Morgan's table, 196 people were selected as the statistical sample. A researcher-made questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. It was pre-tested with a statistical sample of 15 people. Research FindingsThe results of the research showed that based on three economic, social, and technical approaches, the agricultural sector was given the first priority with the greatest weight. The weight of the agricultural sector in the mentioned approaches was 0.851, 0.710, and 0.789, respectively. In the environmental approach, the environment sector (Hamon Lagoon) was ranked as the best option with a weight of 0.603, and the agriculture and drinking sectors were ranked second and third with a weight of 0.364 and 0.033, respectively. Discussion of Results and ConclusionComparing the results of the current research with domestic and foreign studies, we conclude that cultural and social factors have an effect on the optimal performance of groups for the protection and exploitation of water resources in Isfahan province. In addition, cultural factors (environmental awareness, environmental attitudes, and consumption pattern modification culture) have an effect on the desired performance of groups for the protection and exploitation of water resources in Isfahan province. 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