Investigating the Determinant of Environmental Behaviour: A Qualitative Study in Urban Areas of Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor in Architecture, University of Bojnord, Iran

2 Associate Professor in Architecture, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran

3 Professor in Architecture, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Investigating the determinant of environmental Behaviour is an important gateway for controlling the environmental impact of a community, city, residential municipality or settlement. Environmental Behaviour is under the influence of several humanistic and situational factors and its study needs precise evaluation of motivations, Behaviour as well as different social and personal factors. In this paper, through the use of field study; survey and in-depth interviews as well as analyzing data from interviews and observations using Grounded Theory; efforts were made to investigate the determinants of environmental Behaviour in a sample of the Iranian society. A survey was conducted with a focus on the experiences of participants in the context of a residential setting. The findings of this study are presented using the quadripartite paradigm of Stern, which showed that attitude factors had the vastest variation of determinants influencing environmental Behaviour. Accordingly, anthropocentric values are the most influencing factors. The final findings of this research (Central Category), called "Valued Based Vogue", showed that routines as commonly used Behaviours, along with proven values, have a significant effect on the environmental Behaviour of the population under study. Routines are the usual form of Behaviour that is supported and strengthened by values and have the potential of penetrating most Behavioural settings, including the residential setting.

Highlights

Ajzen, I. (1985). “From Intentions to Actions: A Theory of Planned Behaviour”. In Julius Kuhl, Jürgen Beckmann (Eds.): Action Control. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 11–39.

Ajzen, I. (1991). “The theory of planned Behaviour”. Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50 (2),179–211. DOI: 10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T.

Annual Energy Outlook 2014 with projects to 2040. (2014). “Washington DC: US Energy Information Administration”.

Charmaz, K. (2006). “Constructing grounded theory. A practical guide through qualitative analysis”. London, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.

Clayton, Susan D. and Saunders, C. D. (2012). “Environmental and Conservation Psychology”. In Susan D. Clayton (Ed.): The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology: Oxford University Press, 1–8.

Corbin, Juliet M. and Strauss, A. L. (2008). “Basics of qualitative research. Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory”. 3rd ed. Los Angeles, Calif.: Sage Publications.

Derksen, L. and Gartrell, J. (1993). “The social context of recycling”. American sociological review, 58(3), 434–442.

Fietkau, H.J. and Kessel, H. (1981). “Environment: Changes in environmental awareness”. Model experiences (Koenigstein, Hain).

Gifford, R. (2008). “Toward a Comprehensive Model of Social Dilemmas”. In Anders Biel, Daniel Eek, Tommy Gärling, Mathias Gustafsson (Eds.): New Issues and Paradigms in Research on Social Dilemmas. Boston, MA: Springer US, pp. 265–279.

Glaser, B. G. and Strauss, A. L. (1967). “The discovery of grounded theory, Strategies for qualitative research”. Chicago: Aldine Pub. Co (Observations).

Hines, Jody M., Hungerford, H. R. and Tomera, A. N. (1986). “Analysis and Synthesis of Research on Responsible Environmental Behaviour. A Meta-Analysis”. The Journal of Environmental Education,18(2),1–8. DOI: 10.1080/00958964.1987.9943482.

Kamran, F. (2009). “Development of research projects”. (Proposals), Tehran: Publishing of the Daneshyar: Islamic Azad University of Roudehen Branch. [in Persian]

Kelle, U. (2007): “Emergence" vs." forcing" of empirical data? A crucial problem of" Grounded Theory" reconsidered”. Historical Social Research/Historische Sozialforschung. Supplement, 6(2), 133–156.

Kollmuss, A. and Agyeman, J. (2002). “Mind the Gap. Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental Behaviour?” Environmental Education Research, 8 (3), 239–260. DOI: 10.1080/13504620220145401.

Lefebvre, R. C. (2013). “Social marketing and social change”. Strategies and tools for health, well-being, and the environment. 1st ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Wiley.

Marshall, Martin N. (1996): “Sampling for qualitative research”. Fam Pract. 13 (6), 522–526. DOI: 10.1093/fampra/13.6.522.

Ministry of Energy. (2013). “Energy Balance of 2012”. Tehran: Ministry of Energy, Deputy of Electricity and Energy Affairs. Office of Planning for Electricity and Energy, IR IRAN. [in Persian]

Scheuthle, H., Carabias-Hutter, V. and Kaiser, F. G. (2005). “The Motivational and Instantaneous Behaviour Effects of Contexts. Steps Toward a Theory of Goal-Directed Behaviour1”. J Appl Social Pyschol 35 (10), 2076–2093. DOI: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2005.tb02210.x.

Schultz, P., Wesley. and Kaiser, F. G. (2012). “Promoting Pro-Environmental Behaviour”. In Susan D. Clayton (Ed.): The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology: Oxford University Press.

Schwartz, S. H. (1977). “Normative Influences on Altruism. In Leonard Berkowitz (Ed.)” Advances in Experimental Social Psychology Volume 10, vol. 10: Elsevier (Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 10), 221–279.

Stern, P. C. (2000). “New Environmental Theories. Toward a Coherent Theory of Environmentally Significant Behaviour”. J Social Isssues, 56 (3), 407–424. DOI: 10.1111/0022-4537.00175.

Stern, P.C., Dietz, T., Abel, T.D., Guagnano, G A. and Kalof, L. (1999). “A value-belief-norm theory of support for social movements, The case of environmentalism”. Human ecology review 6 (2), 81–97.

Strauss, A. L. and Corbin, J. M. (1998). “Basics of qualitative research. Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory”. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Vaus, D. A. de (1991). “Surveys in social research”. 3th ed. London: Routledge (Social research today).

Wei, Y.M., Liu, L.C., Fan, Y. and Wu, G. (2007). “The impact of lifestyle on energy use and CO2 emission: An empirical analysis of China's residents”. Energy Policy 35 (1), 247–257. DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2005.11.020.

Willuweit, L. (2009). “Promoting Pro-Environmental Behaviour, An Investigation of the cross-cultural environmental Behaviour patterns. The Case of Abu Dhabi”. Thesis in Urban and Regional Planning (Master’s level).

Wimpenny, P. and Gass, J. (2000). “Interviewing in phenomenology and grounded theory: is there a difference?” Journal of advanced nursing, 31 (6), 1485–1492. 

Keywords

References

Ajzen, I. (1985). “From Intentions to Actions: A Theory of Planned Behaviour”. In Julius Kuhl, Jürgen Beckmann (Eds.): Action Control. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 11–39.
Ajzen, I. (1991). “The theory of planned Behaviour”. Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50 (2),179–211. DOI: 10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T.
Annual Energy Outlook 2014 with projects to 2040. (2014). “Washington DC: US Energy Information Administration”.
Charmaz, K. (2006). “Constructing grounded theory. A practical guide through qualitative analysis”. London, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.
Clayton, Susan D. and Saunders, C. D. (2012). “Environmental and Conservation Psychology”. In Susan D. Clayton (Ed.): The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology: Oxford University Press, 1–8.
Corbin, Juliet M. and Strauss, A. L. (2008). “Basics of qualitative research. Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory”. 3rd ed. Los Angeles, Calif.: Sage Publications.
Derksen, L. and Gartrell, J. (1993). “The social context of recycling”. American sociological review, 58(3), 434–442.
Fietkau, H.J. and Kessel, H. (1981). “Environment: Changes in environmental awareness”. Model experiences (Koenigstein, Hain).
Gifford, R. (2008). “Toward a Comprehensive Model of Social Dilemmas”. In Anders Biel, Daniel Eek, Tommy Gärling, Mathias Gustafsson (Eds.): New Issues and Paradigms in Research on Social Dilemmas. Boston, MA: Springer US, pp. 265–279.
Glaser, B. G. and Strauss, A. L. (1967). “The discovery of grounded theory, Strategies for qualitative research”. Chicago: Aldine Pub. Co (Observations).
Hines, Jody M., Hungerford, H. R. and Tomera, A. N. (1986). “Analysis and Synthesis of Research on Responsible Environmental Behaviour. A Meta-Analysis”. The Journal of Environmental Education,18(2),1–8. DOI: 10.1080/00958964.1987.9943482.
Kamran, F. (2009). “Development of research projects”. (Proposals), Tehran: Publishing of the Daneshyar: Islamic Azad University of Roudehen Branch. [in Persian]
Kelle, U. (2007): “Emergence" vs." forcing" of empirical data? A crucial problem of" Grounded Theory" reconsidered”. Historical Social Research/Historische Sozialforschung. Supplement, 6(2), 133–156.
Kollmuss, A. and Agyeman, J. (2002). “Mind the Gap. Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental Behaviour?” Environmental Education Research, 8 (3), 239–260. DOI: 10.1080/13504620220145401.
Lefebvre, R. C. (2013). “Social marketing and social change”. Strategies and tools for health, well-being, and the environment. 1st ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Wiley.
Marshall, Martin N. (1996): “Sampling for qualitative research”. Fam Pract. 13 (6), 522–526. DOI: 10.1093/fampra/13.6.522.
Ministry of Energy. (2013). “Energy Balance of 2012”. Tehran: Ministry of Energy, Deputy of Electricity and Energy Affairs. Office of Planning for Electricity and Energy, IR IRAN. [in Persian]
Scheuthle, H., Carabias-Hutter, V. and Kaiser, F. G. (2005). “The Motivational and Instantaneous Behaviour Effects of Contexts. Steps Toward a Theory of Goal-Directed Behaviour1”. J Appl Social Pyschol 35 (10), 2076–2093. DOI: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2005.tb02210.x.
Schultz, P., Wesley. and Kaiser, F. G. (2012). “Promoting Pro-Environmental Behaviour”. In Susan D. Clayton (Ed.): The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology: Oxford University Press.
Schwartz, S. H. (1977). “Normative Influences on Altruism. In Leonard Berkowitz (Ed.)” Advances in Experimental Social Psychology Volume 10, vol. 10: Elsevier (Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 10), 221–279.
Stern, P. C. (2000). “New Environmental Theories. Toward a Coherent Theory of Environmentally Significant Behaviour”. J Social Isssues, 56 (3), 407–424. DOI: 10.1111/0022-4537.00175.
Stern, P.C., Dietz, T., Abel, T.D., Guagnano, G A. and Kalof, L. (1999). “A value-belief-norm theory of support for social movements, The case of environmentalism”. Human ecology review 6 (2), 81–97.
Strauss, A. L. and Corbin, J. M. (1998). “Basics of qualitative research. Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory”. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Vaus, D. A. de (1991). “Surveys in social research”. 3th ed. London: Routledge (Social research today).
Wei, Y.M., Liu, L.C., Fan, Y. and Wu, G. (2007). “The impact of lifestyle on energy use and CO2 emission: An empirical analysis of China's residents”. Energy Policy 35 (1), 247–257. DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2005.11.020.
Willuweit, L. (2009). “Promoting Pro-Environmental Behaviour, An Investigation of the cross-cultural environmental Behaviour patterns. The Case of Abu Dhabi”. Thesis in Urban and Regional Planning (Master’s level).
Wimpenny, P. and Gass, J. (2000). “Interviewing in phenomenology and grounded theory: is there a difference?” Journal of advanced nursing, 31 (6), 1485–1492. 
Journals of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development
Volume 8, Issue 3
2020
Pages 153-164

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics