IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i13p4853-d854049.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Analysis of Undergraduates’ Environmentally Friendly Behavior: Case Study of Tzu Chi University Environmental Education Program

Author

Listed:
  • Angela Yi Jing Tsai

    (Center of General Education, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97004, Taiwan)

  • Alex Yong Kwang Tan

    (International College, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97074, Taiwan)

Abstract

The Tzu Chi University Environmental Education Program, based on a theory of change, consisted of four weeks of lessons involving environmental and sustainability topics, followed by hands-on sorting of recyclables and four weeks of weekly documenting of environmentally friendly behavior. The Program was analyzed using written thoughts from the Experimental Group, as well as 78 and 116 valid survey responses of the Control and Experimental Groups, respectively. The survey consisted of questions regarding demographics and five constructs: environmental awareness, attitudes, norms, efficacy and behavior. No significant average differences were found between the pre-tests of the Control and Experimental Groups, or between the pre- and post-test of the Control Group. The post-test of the Experimental Group displayed a significantly higher average value when compared to both the pre-test of the Experimental Group and the post-test of the Control Group, as the means of the self-reported environmental awareness, attitudes, norms, efficacy and behavior significantly improved statistically after participating in the Program. Analysis revealed that lessons from the Program increased undergraduates’ environmental awareness and attitudes; “hands-on recyclables sorting” and “weekly documentation of environmentally friendly behavior” strengthened undergraduates’ environmental norms and efficacy, while their combination resulted in a significant improvement toward environmentally friendly behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Angela Yi Jing Tsai & Alex Yong Kwang Tan, 2022. "Analysis of Undergraduates’ Environmentally Friendly Behavior: Case Study of Tzu Chi University Environmental Education Program," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:13:p:4853-:d:854049
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/13/4853/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/13/4853/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wouter Poortinga & Louise Whitaker, 2018. "Promoting the Use of Reusable Coffee Cups through Environmental Messaging, the Provision of Alternatives and Financial Incentives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-10, March.
    2. Shih-Wu Liang & Wei-Ta Fang & Shin-Cheng Yeh & Shiang-Yao Liu & Huei-Min Tsai & Jui-Yu Chou & Eric Ng, 2018. "A Nationwide Survey Evaluating the Environmental Literacy of Undergraduate Students in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-21, May.
    3. Chatzigeorgiou, I.M. & Andreou, G.T., 2021. "A systematic review on feedback research for residential energy behavior change through mobile and web interfaces," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    4. Ajla Cosic & Hana Cosic & Sebastian Ille, 2018. "Can nudges affect students' green behaviour? A field experiment," Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics (SABE), vol. 2(1), pages 107-111, March.
    5. Jiang, Ping & Chen, Yihui & Xu, Bin & Dong, Wenbo & Kennedy, Erin, 2013. "Building low carbon communities in China: The role of individual’s behaviour change and engagement," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 611-620.
    6. Audronė Telešienė & Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Daphne Goldman & Ralph Hansmann, 2021. "Evaluating an Educational Intervention Designed to Foster Environmental Citizenship among Undergraduate University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-19, July.
    7. Edward T. Jackson, 2013. "Interrogating the theory of change: evaluating impact investing where it matters most," Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(2), pages 95-110, April.
    8. Shujie Zhao & Qingbin Song & Chao Wang, 2019. "Characterizing the Energy-Saving Behaviors, Attitudes and Awareness of University Students in Macau," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-11, November.
    9. Chia-Lin Hsu & Mu-Chen Chen & Yu-Hsiang Lin, 2017. "Information technology adoption for sustainable development: green e-books as an example," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 261-280, April.
    10. Heimlich, Joe E., 2010. "Environmental education evaluation: Reinterpreting education as a strategy for meeting mission," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 180-185, May.
    11. Wang, Shanyong & Lin, Shoufu & Li, Jun, 2018. "Exploring the effects of non-cognitive and emotional factors on household electricity saving behavior," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 171-180.
    12. Agata Balińska & Ewa Jaska & Agnieszka Werenowska, 2021. "The Role of Eco-Apps in Encouraging Pro-Environmental Behavior of Young People Studying in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-16, August.
    13. Zofia Gródek-Szostak & Mateusz Malinowski & Marcin Suder & Klaudia Kwiecień & Stanisław Bodziacki & Magdalena D. Vaverková & Alżbeta Maxianová & Anna Krakowiak-Bal & Urszula Ziemiańczyk & Hrihorii Usk, 2021. "Energy Conservation Behaviors and Awareness of Polish, Czech and Ukrainian Students: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-22, September.
    14. Miguel Leiva-Brondo & Natalia Lajara-Camilleri & Anna Vidal-Meló & Alejandro Atarés & Cristina Lull, 2022. "Spanish University Students’ Awareness and Perception of Sustainable Development Goals and Sustainability Literacy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-26, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Grilli, Gianluca & Curtis, John, 2021. "Encouraging pro-environmental behaviours: A review of methods and approaches," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    2. Mykolas Simas Poškus, 2022. "Toward the Development and Validation of a Model of Environmental Citizenship of Young Adults," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Angela Yi Jing Tsai & Alex Yong Kwang Tan, 2022. "The Expanded Theory of Planned Behavior in the Context of Environmental Protection Behaviors for Undergraduates: Roles of Moral Norms and University Class Standings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Liu, Chang & Lin, Boqiang, 2020. "Is increasing-block electricity pricing effectively carried out in China? A case study in Shanghai and Shenzhen," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    5. Garfield Wayne Hunter & Gideon Sagoe & Daniele Vettorato & Ding Jiayu, 2019. "Sustainability of Low Carbon City Initiatives in China: A Comprehensive Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-37, August.
    6. Violeta Mihaela Dincă & Mihail Busu & Zoltan Nagy-Bege, 2022. "Determinants with Impact on Romanian Consumers’ Energy-Saving Habits," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, June.
    7. Allred, Shorna & Stedman, Richard & Heady, Laura & Strong, Karen, 2021. "Incorporating biodiversity in municipal land-use planning: An assessment of technical assistance, policy capacity, and conservation outcomes in New York’s Hudson Valley," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    8. Le Thi Dieu Hien & Khuu Ngoc Huyen & Thi Hong Loc Hoang, 2023. "Factors Affecting Energy-Saving Intentions among Youth in Vietnam," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(6), pages 603-609, November.
    9. Juana Isabel Méndez & Adán Medina & Pedro Ponce & Therese Peffer & Alan Meier & Arturo Molina, 2022. "Evolving Gamified Smart Communities in Mexico to Save Energy in Communities through Intelligent Interfaces," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-29, July.
    10. Syrus M. Islam, 2022. "Impact investing in social sector organisations: a systematic review and research agenda," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(1), pages 709-737, March.
    11. Benjamin S. Thompson, 2023. "Impact investing in biodiversity conservation with bonds: An analysis of financial and environmental risk," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 353-368, January.
    12. Wei Zheng & Hongliang Qiu & Alastair M. Morrison, 2023. "Applying a Combination of SEM and fsQCA to Predict Tourist Resource-Saving Behavioral Intentions in Rural Tourism: An Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-23, January.
    13. Tuan Khanh Vuong, 2024. "Factors Affecting Households’ Electricity-Saving Behaviour: A Perspective on Sustainable Development," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(4), pages 440-449, July.
    14. DURAK Koray & DUQUE JIMENEZI Diana Raquel & KARADAVUT Berkay, 2024. "The Reusable Coffee Cup System “Billie Cup” In A University Setting: A Pilot-Study," Management of Sustainable Development, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 16(1), pages 99-105, June.
    15. Irene Bengo & Leonardo Boni & Alessandro Sancino, 2022. "EU financial regulations and social impact measurement practices: A comprehensive framework on finance for sustainable development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(4), pages 809-819, July.
    16. Burford, Gemma & Velasco, Ismael & Janoušková, Svatava & Zahradnik, Martin & Hak, Tomas & Podger, Dimity & Piggot, Georgia & Harder, Marie K., 2013. "Field trials of a novel toolkit for evaluating ‘intangible’ values-related dimensions of projects," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 1-14.
    17. Żaneta Muranko & Catriona Tassell & Anouk Zeeuw van der Laan & Marco Aurisicchio, 2021. "Characterisation and Environmental Value Proposition of Reuse Models for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: Reusable Packaging and Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-35, March.
    18. Shi, Zhengyu & Wu, Libo & Zhou, Yang, 2023. "Predicting household energy consumption in an aging society," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 352(C).
    19. Grilli, Gianluca & Curtis, John, 2021. "An evaluation of public initiatives to change behaviours that affect water quality," Papers WP696, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    20. Kampanad Bhaktikul & Sayam Aroonsrimorakot & Meena Laiphrakpam & Warit Paisantanakij, 2021. "Toward a low-carbon tourism for sustainable development: a study based on a royal project for highland community development in Chiang Rai, Thailand," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 10743-10762, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:13:p:4853-:d:854049. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.