Gender and Age as Determinants of Environmental Perception
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/japsy.1579Keywords:
Environmental Perception, Gender, AgeAbstract
Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which gender and age account for the variations in the environmental perception of tertiary education students in Enugu Geographical Area, Enugu State.
Methodology: Three research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a correlational research design. The study was conducted in Enugu Geographical Area, Enugu State. The population of the study comprised 29,364 tertiary education students in Enugu Geographical Area, Enugu State. The sample size of the study was 760 tertiary education students in Enugu Geographical Area of Enugu State. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to draw the sample size. Structured questionnaire developed by the researcher was used for data collection. The instrument was titled "Environmental Perception Scale" The instrument was validated by seven experts. Cronbach Alpha was used to establish the reliability of the instrument.
Findings: The instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.77. Data collected were analyzed using mean score and standard deviation for research question one while linear regression was used to answer research questions 1-2. Regression ANOVA was used to test the null hypotheses.
Unique Contributor to Theory, Policy and Practice: The findings of the study showed that the tertiary education students have positive perception of their environment in Enugu geographical area; that 46% of variation in students' environmental perception is attributed to students' gender with R value of 0.68 and value of 0.46 and there is a significant difference between gender and tertiary education students' environmental perception and that 42% of variation in students' environmental perception is attributed to students' age with R value of 0.62 and value of 0.42 and there is a significant difference between age and tertiary education students' environmental perception. Based on the findings of the study, relevant conclusions were drawn.
Downloads
References
Abdulkarim, B., Yacob, M. R., Abdullah, A. M., & Radam, A. (2017). Farmers' perceptions and attitudes toward forest watershed conservation of the North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 36(4), 1-15.
Adejoke, O. C., Mji, A., & Mukhola, M. S. (2014). Students' and Teachers' awareness of and attitude towards environmental pollution: A multivariate analysis using biographical variables. Journal of Human Ecology, 45(2), 167-175.
Ahmad, A. L., Rahim, S. A., Pawanteh, L., & Ahmad, F. (2012). The understanding of environmental citizenship among Malaysian youths: A study on perception and participation. Asian social science, 8(5), 85-92.
Boca, G. D. & Saraçlı, S. (2019). Environmental Education and student's perception, for sustainability. Sustainability,11, 1553,1-18.
Erhabor, N. I & Don, J. U. (2016). Impact of Environmental Education on the knowledge and attitude of students towards the environment. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 11, (12), 5367-5375.
Gieseking, J. J., Mangold, W., Katz, C., Low, S., & Saegert, S. (Eds.). (2014). The people, place, and space reader. Routledge.
Gökmen, A. (2021). The effect of gender on environmental attitude: A meta-analysis study. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 5, (1), 243- 257.
Goldstein, E. B. (2011). Translated by Jeong-Oh Kim et al. Sensation and perception, Cengage Learning Korea, Seoul, 200-209.
Hawcroft, L. J., & Milfont, T. L. (2010). The use (and abuse) of the new environmental paradigm scale over the last 30 years: A meta-analysis, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30, 143 -158.
Ifegbesan, A. P., & Rampedi, I. T. (2018). Understanding the role of socio-demographic and geographical location on pro-environmental behavior in Nigeria. Applied Environmental Education & Communication, 6, (4),1-17.
Jens, C. T., (2010). Littering - a persistent problem. Waste Management Research 28: 863 Waste Management & Research. Sage Publications
Katoch, K. S. (2017). Awareness and attitude of school students towards Environment. Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, 4(37), 8543-8550. https://doi.org/10.21922/srjis.v4i37.10672.
Kaya, H. E., Gul, H., & Gul, S. S. (2012). Impact of Environmental Education on elementary school students in Turkey. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Thought, 2(3),423- 431.
Kideghesho, J. R., & Msuya, T. S. (2010). Gender and socio-economic factors influencing domestication of indigenous medicinal plants in the West Usambara Mountains, northern Tanzania. International Journal of Biodiversity Science Ecosystem Services and Management, 6(1-2), 3-12.
Kimaryo, L. A. (2011). Integrating environmental education in primary school education in Tanzania and teachers' perception and teaching practice. Abo Akademi University Press.
Lang, K. B. (2011). The relationship between academic major and environmentalism among college students: Is It mediated by the effects of gender, political ideology and financial security?" The Journal of Environmental Education, 42(4), 203-215.
Lange, F., & S. Dewitte. (2019). Measuring pro-environmental behavior: Review and recommendations. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 63, 92-100.
Mama, C. N., Nnnaji, C.C., Nnam, J. P., & Opata, O. C. (2021). Environmental burden of unprocessed solid waste handling in Enugu State, Nigeria. Environmental Science & Pollution Research, 28, 19439-19457.
Mba, E. H. (2018). Assessment of Environmental Impact of Deforestation in Enugu, Nigeria. Resources and Environment, 8(4), 207-215.
Mbewe, P. (2016). Determinants of Environmental Perception of Rural inhabitants in Bushbuckridge, South Africa. Unpublished MSc dissertation. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Monus, F. (2019). Comparing environmental awareness of Hungarian students in high-schools with different socio-economical background. Journal of Applied Technical and Educational Sciences, 9(1), 17-27.
Mudombi, G. (2011). Factors affecting perceptions and responsiveness to climate variability induced hazards. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis. University of Zimbabwe, Faculty of Agriculture Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension.
Pantavou, K., Lykoudis, S., & Psiloglou, B. (2017). Air quality perception of pedestrians in an urban outdoor Mediterranean environment: A field survey approach. Science of Total Environment, 1, 574,663-670. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.090.
Paumgarten, F., & Shackleton, C. M. (2011). The role of non-timber forest products in household coping strategies in South Africa: the influence of household wealth and gender. Population and Environment, 33(1), 108-131.
Pzmony, (2011). Endangerment and cause or contribute findings for greenhouse gases under section 202(a) of the clean air act, EPA response to public comments. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Rogarjan, D., & Nebrida. E. (2019). Environmental awareness and practices of science students: input for ecological management plan. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education, 9(2), 106-119.
Rolleri, L. (2012a). Gender-related definitions. New York: Engender Health.
Sana, A., Brouwer, C., & Hien, H. (2017). Knowledge and perceptions of health and environmental risks related to artisanal gold mining by the artisanal miners in Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional survey. The Pan African Medical Journal, 27, 280-340.
Shabu, T., & Uchi, T. S (2013). Residents' perception of environmental quality in judges' quarters of Makurdi town, Nigeria. Journal of Human and Social Science Research, 40(1), 39 - 49.
Shi, X. 1., & He, F. (2012). The environmental pollution perception of residents in coal mining areas: a case study in the Hancheng mine area, Shaanxi Province, China. Environmental Management, 50(4), 505-513. doi: 10.1007/s00267-012-9920-8.
Shibia, M. G. (2010). Determinants of attitudes and perceptions on resource use and management of Marsabit National Reserve, Kenya. Journal of Human Ecology, 30(1), 55-62.
Tesfai, M., Nagothu, U. S., Simek, J., & Fucik., P. (2016). Perception of secondary school students towards environmental services: A case study from Czechia. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 11(12), 5533-5553.
Umeano, E. C. (2012). Brief foundation of educational psychology. Enugu: Great AP Express Publishers Ltd.
Witzling, L., Shaw, B., & Amato, M.S. (2015). Incorporating information exposure into a theory of planned behavior model to enrich understanding of proenvironmental behavior. Science Communication, 37(7), 551-574.
Yalçınkaya, E. (2013). Environmental issues to 8th grades elementary education students: a qualitative study. Marmara Geographical Review, 27, 416-439.
Yılmaz, N., & Erkal, S. (2017). Determining undergraduate students' environmental attıtude. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 6(4), 137-146
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Okoro, Ifeanyichukwu. D, Prof. E. K. N. Nwagu, Monday, Sampson , Okoro, Patrick
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
