Title: Evaluating environmental awareness, attitude, and performance in post-graduate students of Isfahan University and verifying their views on rural environment challenges

Authors: Hamid Barghi; Maryam Najafi; Mahdi Rajabi

Addresses: Faculty of Geographical Science and Planning, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran ' Faculty of Geographical Science and Planning, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran ' Applied Economics, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium

Abstract: Determining the students' environmental awareness, attitudes, and performances provides the planners with helpful information. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the environmental awareness, attitudes, and performance of the Geography and Rural Planning post-graduate students of Isfahan University. This study employed the descriptive-survey method; and the required information was obtained through questionnaires filled by 70 students. Results showed an average environmental score of 5.71 for the students which is in the mean range (4-6). Also they had a positive attitude toward environmental issues. Correlation coefficient analysis indicated no relationship between environmental awareness and attitude while the attitude and performance were related positively and significantly (0.518). Among environmental information sources, the Iranian Broadcast had the greatest role; and the respondents recognised the villagers' culture and attitudes towards exploiting natural resources (socio-cultural attitude) as the most important factor for the emergence of environmental challenges in Iran's rural areas.

Keywords: environment; environmental awareness; environmental attitude; environmental performance; students.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEPDM.2017.085400

International Journal of Environmental Policy and Decision Making, 2017 Vol.2 No.3, pp.179 - 195

Received: 18 Jul 2016
Accepted: 15 Jan 2017
Published online: 25 Jul 2017 *

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