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A Nationwide Survey Evaluating the Environmental Literacy of Undergraduate Students in Taiwan

Author

Listed:
  • Shih-Wu Liang

    (Department of Public Relations and Advertising, Shih Hsin University, Taipei 231, Taiwan)

  • Wei-Ta Fang

    (Graduate Institute of Environmental Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 116, Taiwan)

  • Shin-Cheng Yeh

    (Graduate Institute of Environmental Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 116, Taiwan)

  • Shiang-Yao Liu

    (Graduate Institute of Science Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 116, Taiwan)

  • Huei-Min Tsai

    (Graduate Institute of Environmental Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 116, Taiwan)

  • Jui-Yu Chou

    (Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua 500, Taiwan)

  • Eric Ng

    (School of Management and Enterprise, University of Southern Queensland, Queensland 4350, Australia)

Abstract

The aim of this nationwide survey was to assess undergraduate students’ environmental literacy level in Taiwan. A total of 29,498 valid responses were received from a number of selected colleges and universities in Taiwan, using stratified random sampling method. A total of 70 items were used to assess the environmental literacy and the results revealed that undergraduate students had a relatively low level of environmental knowledge and behavior, while a moderate level of environmental attitudes was attained. The findings also indicated no significant correlations between knowledge and attitudes or between knowledge and behavior. However, a higher level of environmental knowledge correlated significantly with a higher degree of pro-environmental behavior, and a higher level of environmental knowledge correlated with stronger attitudes. The results also suggested that females outperformed the males in all categories. Results from this study could contribute towards further relevant policy discussion and decision-making, curriculum design and development to the improvement of environmental education in the higher education sector.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:6:p:1730-:d:148967
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Han, Heesup & Hsu, Li-Tzang (Jane) & Sheu, Chwen, 2010. "Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to green hotel choice: Testing the effect of environmental friendly activities," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 325-334.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Janaka Kuruppuarachchi & Palaniappan Hemadila & Buddhika Madurapperuma, 2023. "Comparison of the Literacy Level on Major Environmental Issues of the G.C.E. (A/L) Students of Different Disciplines in Kandy District, Sri Lanka," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-18, February.
    3. 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.
    4. Chaofan Chen & Qi An & Lijuan Zheng & Chenghua Guan, 2022. "Sustainability Literacy: Assessment of Knowingness, Attitude and Behavior Regarding Sustainable Development among Students in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Shan-Hui Chao & Jin-Zhang Jiang & Kuan-Chu Wei & Eric Ng & Chia-Hsuan Hsu & Yi-Te Chiang & Wei-Ta Fang, 2021. "Understanding Pro-Environmental Behavior of Citizen Science: An Exploratory Study of the Bird Survey in Taoyuan’s Farm Ponds Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, May.
    6. Chung-Ting Pan & Shih-Jang Hsu, 2020. "Effects of a One-day Environmental Education Program on Sixth-Graders’ Environmental Literacy at a Nature Center in Eastern Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-14, June.
    7. Matthew L. Richardson & Ashley D. Milton & Elgloria Harrison, 2020. "People with Different Educational Attainment in Washington, DC, USA have Differential Knowledge and Perceptions about Environmental Issues," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-19, March.
    8. Teresa Berglund & Niklas Gericke & Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Daniel Olsson & Tzu-Chau Chang, 2020. "A cross-cultural comparative study of sustainability consciousness between students in Taiwan and Sweden," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 6287-6313, October.
    9. Dalton Erick Baltazar & Jillian Labadz & Roy Smith & Andrew Telford & Marcello Di Bonito, 2022. "Socio-Cultural Valuation of Urban Parks: The Case of Jose Rizal Plaza in Calamba City, The Philippines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, October.

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