What’s the problem? River management, education, and public beliefs

M. Hughes; B. Weiler; J. Curtis

doi:10.1007/s13280-012-0282-5

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What’s the problem? River management, education, and public beliefs

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

What’s the problem? River management, education, and public beliefs

M. Hughes, B. Weiler and J. Curtis

Ambio, Vol.41(7), pp.709-719

2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-012-0282-5

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Abstract

This paper invokes the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a diagnostic tool to explain an existing public education program's limited success at improving river water quality in the City of Perth, Western Australia. A reflective, client-driven research approach was used. A facilitated expert workshop defined an environmental problem (excess nutrients leaving gardens and entering waterways) and a desired behavior (residents purchasing environmentally sensitive fertilizer) to address the problem. A TPB-based belief elicitation survey captured respondents' beliefs regarding the desired behavior. The findings suggest respondents were aware of the links between purchasing environmentally sensitive fertilizer and river water quality. However, this behavior is compromised by the challenges in identifying appropriate products, product quality concerns, and cost. Viewing the content of a public education program through the lens of the TPB reveals insights into how and why the program fell short in achieving one of its key behavioral change goals.

Details

Title: What’s the problem? River management, education, and public beliefs
Authors/Creators: M. Hughes (Author/Creator) - Curtin University
B. Weiler (Author/Creator) - Southern Cross University
J. Curtis (Author/Creator) - Monash University
Publication Details: Ambio, Vol.41(7), pp.709-719
Publisher: Springer Verlag
Identifiers: 991005543133107891
Copyright: © Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 2012.
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 6 Social Sciences; 6.73 Social Psychology; 6.73.1507 Pro-environmental Behavior
Web Of Science research areas: Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology