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What Determines Behaviours Towards Water Resources Management in a Rural Context? Results of a Quantitative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Murat Okumah

    (Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Ata Senior Yeboah

    (Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)

  • Elias Nkiaka

    (Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Richard Apatewen Azerigyik

    (Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)

Abstract

Recent environmental policies introduced to safeguard the quality of water resources have focussed on encouraging pro-environmental behaviours (PEB). This has resulted in a considerable volume of research output that seeks to investigate the determinants of PEB in the context of water resources management. However, there is a paucity of literature exploring the topic within the developing country context, though evidence suggests that these regions record the highest rates of water resource pollution. This limits our understanding of the determinants of PEB and thus constrains our ability to develop and implement effective policies to encourage uptake of PEB. Following this, we apply the Theory of Planned Behaviour to explore the determinants of PEB, using structural equation modelling to analyse survey data from rural Ghana. The evidence supports the hypothesis that attitudes and perceived behavioural control affects intentions, and this translates into pro-environmental behaviour. Results further indicate that attitude and perceived behavioural control have a strong explanatory power in people’s intentions, and intentions are influential drivers of pro-environmental behaviour. An explicit recognition of the role of situational factors could offer a profound understanding of the determinants of behaviours that promote water resources management and support the development and implementation of policies aimed at safeguarding the quality of water resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Murat Okumah & Ata Senior Yeboah & Elias Nkiaka & Richard Apatewen Azerigyik, 2019. "What Determines Behaviours Towards Water Resources Management in a Rural Context? Results of a Quantitative Study," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:8:y:2019:i:2:p:109-:d:238986
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Daxini, Amar & Ryan, Mary & O’Donoghue, Cathal & Barnes, Andrew P., 2019. "Understanding farmers’ intentions to follow a nutrient management plan using the theory of planned behaviour," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 428-437.
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