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Differentiated Impact of Politics- and Science-Oriented Education on Pro-Environmental Behavior: A Case Study of Chinese University Students

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  • Ran Wang

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Tiantian Jia

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Rui Qi

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Jinhua Cheng

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Kang Zhang

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Erwei Wang

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Xi Wang

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand the differentiated impact of politics- and science-oriented education on pro-environmental behavior among university students. A questionnaire was designed and sent to more than 14,000 university students from 152 universities in China using the snowball sampling method. In the questionnaire, the environmental knowledge was divided innovatively into two parts: Science-oriented knowledge spread by traditional environmental education and politics-oriented knowledge spread through political education. The structural equation model was used to understand the conduction path of pro-environmental knowledge, attitude, and behavior. It shows that politics-oriented knowledge has a quicker and stronger effect on improving behavior than science-oriented knowledge. Moreover, there is a significant positive correlation between science- and politics-oriented knowledge. However, the attitude is positively influenced by science-oriented knowledge, instead of politics-oriented knowledge. It suggests that traditional environmental education and political education should be integrated to promote the pro-environmental behavior of university students indirectly and directly, which may provide an opportunity for pro-environmental political education in other countries. The study contributes important theoretical and practical implications for environmental education and sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Ran Wang & Tiantian Jia & Rui Qi & Jinhua Cheng & Kang Zhang & Erwei Wang & Xi Wang, 2021. "Differentiated Impact of Politics- and Science-Oriented Education on Pro-Environmental Behavior: A Case Study of Chinese University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:616-:d:478137
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
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    2. Vasile Gherheș & Mariana Cernicova-Buca & Marcela Alina Fărcașiu & Adina Palea, 2021. "Romanian Students’ Environment-Related Routines during COVID-19 Home Confinement: Water, Plastic, and Paper Consumption," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-24, August.
    3. Ang Li & Bo Li & Xia Liu & Ying Zhang & Haiyan Zhang & Xuyang Lei & Suxia Hou & Bin Lu, 2022. "Characteristics and Dynamics of University Students’ Awareness of Retired Mobile Phones in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Jinming Wang & Jialu Dai & Bart Julien Dewancker & Weijun Gao & Zaiqiang Liu & Yue Zhou, 2022. "Impact of Situational Environmental Education on Tourist Behavior—A Case Study of Water Culture Ecological Park in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-23, September.
    5. Chunshan Zhou & Dahao Zhang & Xiong He, 2021. "Transportation Accessibility Evaluation of Educational Institutions Conducting Field Environmental Education Activities in Ecological Protection Areas: A Case Study of Zhuhai City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.

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