Environment and Interdisciplinary Development

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

By Subject

Author Index

Keyword Index

About Journal

Aims and Scope

Editorial Board

Publication Ethics

Indexing and Abstracting

Related Links

FAQ

Peer Review Process

News

Guide for Authors

Forms and Format Template

Reviewers

Investigating the Role of Knowledge of Local Communities in The Attitudes and Behaviors of Cooperative Use of Water Resources

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Water Science and Engineering, College of Agricultural, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.

2 Research Group of Environmental Engineering and Pollution Monitoring, Research Center for Environment and Sustainable Development, RCESD, Department of Environment, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: In the present age, the issues and challenges of water crisis are at the center of attention of human life. To solve these crises, recent environmental policies have focused on encouraging pro-environmental behaviors and the determining factors of this behavior. Considering that one of the reasons for this crisis is the lack of human knowledge in the sustainable management of resources, therefore, the present research aims to contribute in the explanation and prediction of cooperative use behavior of water resources by Investigating the rich experiences of a successful case study in the field of water consumption local management by focusing on the knowledge component.
Materials & Methods: The theoretical framework of the research is the modify theory of planned behavior (MTPB) with an emphasis on the local knowledge component. This descriptive research was conducted using a survey method and a questionnaire among two groups of drinking and agricultural users in Toshan and Galand villages in Golestan province. The validity and reliability of the questionnaires have been confirmed using the Content Validity Ratio and Cronbach's alpha test. According to the research objectives, SPSS software was used for the statistical analysis of the questionnaires. In the following, structural equation modeling using Smart PLS software has been used for the simultaneous analysis of causal relationships between variables and the degree of conformity of the conceptual model with experimental observations.
Results: The results of the statistical analysis show that the environmental knowledge of the users about water issues in the region is higher than the expected average, and this means that the level of cooperative behavior in the study area is high. Also, according to the Stone-Geisser scale, the structural model has a good structural quality in all cases. Investigating the structural part of the model by Average Variance Extracted (AVE) and Composite Reliability (CR) shows the appropriate reliability and convergent validity of the MTPB model. Also, the value of the R2 coefficient shows that in total, the variables of the modify model explain 92, 93, 74 and 79% of the behavior of the users of Toshan drinking, Galand drinking, Toshan agriculture and Galand agriculture, respectively, in relation to local participation in the use of water resources. Regarding the structural paths of the model, the results indicate that all components have a positive and significant effect on the variable of behavioral intention. Also, according to the obtained path coefficients, a positive and significant relationship has been observed between knowledge and attitude with the behavior of cooperative use of water resources, which confirms the hypothesis of the research and shows that the users have a positive attitude towards the cooperative behavior of water conservation in all cases.
Discussion: According to the field experiences in the study area, the participation of stakeholders in the use of water resources facilitates the work by sharing environmental knowledge in cases where there are conflicts regarding the use of water. Adding the knowledge component, has not shown significant differences in improving behavior prediction between different cases of consumption. Of course, the results show that knowledge can be effective as a prerequisite for engaging in cooperative behavior. It should be noted that the results show that drinking water users, with a slight difference compared to agricultural users, have a greater behavioral intention to accept cooperative management of water resources.

Keywords

References
  1. Ajzen, I., Joyce, N.M., Sheikh, S. and Gilbert Cote, N., 2011.  Knowledge and the Prediction of Behavior: The Role of Information Accuracy in the Theory of Planned Behavior. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 33,101-117.
  2. Aliabadi, V., Gholamrezai, S. and Ataei, P., 2020. Rural people’s intention to adopt sustainable water management by rainwater harvesting practices: application of TPB and HBM models. Water Supply, 20, 1847-1861.
  3. Asdollahzadeh, S.M., 2011. Social factors Underpinning water Consumption Patters in Babol. M.A. Thesis. University of Mazandaran, Iran. (In Persian).
  4. Bagheri, A., Emami, N. and Damalas, Ch., 2021. Farmers' behavior towards safe pesticide handling: An analysis with theory of planned behavior. J. Science of the Total Environment. 751, 141709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141709.
  5. Castillo, G.M.L., Engler, A. and Wollni, M., 2021. Planned behavior and social capital: Understanding farmers’ behavior toward pressurized irrigation technologies. Agricultural water management, 243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106524.
  6. Diclemente, R.J., 1989. Prevention of human immunodeficiencyvirus infection among adolescents: The interplay of health education nd public policy in the development and implementation ofschool-based AIDS education programs. AIDS Education and Prevention, 1, 70–78.
  7. Dolnicar, S., Hurlimann, A. and Grun, B., 2012. Water conservation behavior in Australia. Journal of Environment Management. 105, 44–52.
  8. Farzaneh, M., Bagheri, A. and Momeni, F., 2016. A System Dynamics Insight to Institutional context Analysis of groundwater resources in Rafsanjan Plain. Iran-Water Resources Research. 12, 67–82. (In Persian with English abstract).
  9. Fisher, J.D. and Fisher, W.A., 1992. Changing AIDS-risk behavior. Psychological Bulletin, 111, 455–474.
  10. Hafaz Ngah, A., Jeevan, J., Mohd Salleh, N.H., Tae Hwee Lee, T. and Mhd Ruslan, S. M., 2020. Willingness to pay for halal transportation cost: the moderating effect of knowledge on the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques, 8, 13–22.
  11. Henseler, J., Dijkstra, T.K., Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C.M., Diamantopoulos, A., Straub, D.W., Ketchen, D.J., Hair, J.F., Hult, G.T.M. and Calantone, R.J., 2014. Common Beliefs and Reality about Partial Least Squares: Comments on Rönkkö & Evermann (2013). Organizational Research Methods, 17, 182-209.
  12. Hu, L.T. and Bentler, P.M., 1999. Cutoff Criteria for Fit Indexes in Covariance Structure Analysis: Conventional Criteria versus New Alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1-55.
  13. Liu, P., Teng, M. and Han, Ch., 2020. How does environmental knowledge translate into pro-environmental behaviors? The mediating role of environmental attitudes and behavioral intentions. Science of the Total Environment, 728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138126.
  14. Okumah, M., Yeboah, A.S. and Amponsah, O., 2020. Stakeholders’ willingness and motivations to support sustainable water resources management: insights from a Ghanaian study. Conservation Science and Practice, 2. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.170.
  15. Okumah, M, Yeboah, A.S., Nkiaka, E. and Azerigyik, R.A., 2019. What determines behaviours towards water resources management in a rural context? Results of a quantitative study. Resources, 8. https://doi:10.3390/resources8020109.
  16. Pino, G., Toma, P., Rizzo, C., Miglietta, P.P., M.Peluso, A. and Guido, G., 2017. Determinants of Farmers’ Intention to Adopt Water Saving Measures: Evidence from Italy. Sustainability, 9. doi:10.3390/su9010077.
  17. Rezaeean, S., Jozi, S.A. and Malmasi, S., 2020. The Role of Citizen Participation in Urban Environmental Protection (Case Study: District 9 of Tehran). Environment and Interdisciplinary Development, 4, 59-70. (In Persian with English abstract).
  18. Salehi, S. and Ebrahimi, H., 2020. An analysis of students’ knowledge and behavior toward water (case study: secondary schools in Mazandaran). Environmental Sciences, 18, 41–58. (In Persian with English abstract).
  19. Salvaggio, M., Futrell, R., Batson, C.D. and Brents, B.G., 2014. Water scarcity in the desert metropolis: how environmental values, knowledge and concern affect Las Vegas residents' support for water conservation policy. J Environ Plann Man, 57, 588–611.
  20. Shahangian, S.A., Tabesh, M., Yazdanpanah, M., Raoof, M.A. and Zobeidi, T., 2022. Explaining Water Curtailment Behaviors Using the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior (Case Study of Isfahan). Journal of Water and Wastewater, 33, 58-76. (In Persian with English abstract).
  21. Shfaii Moghadam, E., 2022. Investigating the Mediating Role of Responsibility in the Relationship between Altruistic Value and Environmental Citizenship Behavior. Environment and Interdisciplinary Development, 7, 45-60. (In Persian with English abstract).
  22. Wang, H., Li, J., Mangmeechai, A. and Su, J., 2021. Linking Perceived Policy Effectiveness and Proenvironmental Behavior: The Influence of Attitude, Implementation Intention, and Knowledge. International journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062910.
  23. Wang, Y., Yang, J., Liang, J., Qiang, Y., Fang, S., Gao, M., Fan, X., Yang, G., Zhang, B. and Feng, Y., 2018. Analysis of the environmental behavior of farmers for non-point source pollution control and management in a water source protection area in China. J. Science of the Total Environment, 633, 1126-1135.
  24. Warner, L.A., Turner, S. and Lundy, L., 2020. Comparing Linkages Between Descriptive Norms and Current and Intended Outdoor Water Conservation. The Journal of Extension, 58(6).  https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol58/iss6/16.
  25. Yazarloo, B., Shahidi, A. and Farzaneh, M.R., 2021. The Role of Moral Norms in Participatory
    Management of Water Resources in Toshan of Golestan Province. Iran-Water Resources Research, 17, 1-16. (In Persian with English abstract).
  26. ZamaniAhmadmahmoodi, R., Gharahi, N., Bayati, S., Khedri-Gharibvand, H., Amini, M. and Asadi, F., 2022. Assessment of Shahrekord's People's Awareness in Municipal Solid Waste Management. Environment and Interdisciplinary Development, 7, 1-11. (In Persian with English abstract).
  27. Zhang, W., Xu, R., Jiang, Y. and Zhang, W., 2021. How Environmental Knowledge Management Promotes Employee Green Behavior: An Empirical Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 4738. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094738.
Environment and Interdisciplinary Development
Volume 7, Issue 78
January 2023
Pages 24-37
Files
Share
How to cite
Statistics