UPSI Digital Repository (UDRep)
Start | FAQ | About

Environmentally-Literate Citizenry among Malaysian Youth to Produce Responsible Environmental Behaviour

AVAILABLE Article 1170 Views
Back to search
Scan QR Code to share or view item link:

Digital Assets & Download Files
Login required to access this item.
General Information Cached
Title
Environmentally-Literate Citizenry among Malaysian Youth to Produce Responsible Environmental Behaviour
Type
Article
Main Author
Saiyidatina Balkhis Norkhaidi
Additional Authors
  • Hanifah Mahat
  • Mohmadisa Hashim
Subject
GE Environmental Sciences
ISSN
0126-8694
Language Code
eng
Bibliographic Details
Place of Production
Tanjong Malim
Publisher
Fakulti Sains Kemanusiaan
Year of publication
2021
Degree Type
Others
Corporate Name
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris

Abstract

This quantitative study explores the environmentally-literate citizenry for responsible environmental behavior among Malaysian youth involving 1,000 young Malaysians selected from five regional zones (north, central, south, east coast, and East Malaysia). A stratified random sampling technique based on age gender and the location was used to select respondents. The study instrument was a questionnaire that involved two constructs; environmental literacy (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere) and environmentally responsible behaviour. A descriptive analysis was used to represent level, frequency, and percentage. While Pearson correlation was used to find the relationship between environmental literacy and responsible environmental behaviour among Malaysian youth. Finding shows that the levels of environmental literacy at high levels (M = 4.050, SP = .611) and all sub-constructs also at high levels, atmosphere (M = 3.884, SP = .638), hydrosphere (M = 4.083, SP = .725), lithosphere (M = 3.964, SP = .683) and biosphere (M = 4.269, SP = .739). While responsible environmental behaviour was at a high average level with values of M = 3.868 and SP = .544. The correlation between environmental literacy and responsible environmental behaviour among Malaysian youth indicates a weak relationship strength (r=2.75, p=.000). Therefore, there show that environmentally will affect the literate citizenry among Malaysian youth to produce responsible environmental behaviour. It is hoped that this study will provide the basis for further research into the level and potential of literacy and environmentally responsible behaviour towards environmental sustainability in Malaysian society and increase awareness of serious environmental issues.

References

Abdul Rahman, H. 2020. Malaysian youth and environmental sustainability: A review. Perspektif: Jurnal Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan 12(2):43-54.

Andersson, D., Nassen, J. & Larsson, J. 2014. Greenhouse gas emissions and subjective wellbeing: An analysis of Swedish households. Ecol Econ. 102: 75-82.

Arasinah Kamis, Mohd Azlan Mohammad Hussain, Che Ghani Che Kob, Faizal Amin Nur Yunus & Mohd Bekri Rahim. 2018. Validity and reliability of green skills instrument. Sains Humanika 10(3): 73–80.

Axelrod, L. J., & Lehman, D. R. 1993. Responding to environmental concerns: What factors guide individual action? Journal of Environmental Psychology 13(2): 149-159.

Babbie, E. 2007. The Practice of Social Research. 11th Edition, Thompson Wadsworth, Belmont. Bishop, K., & Scott, W. 1998. Deconstructing action competence: Developing a case for a more scientifically-attentive environmental education. Public Understanding of Science 7: 225-236.

Cohen, L. & Manion, L. 1989. Research Methods in Education. 3rd edition. London: Routledge. 

Economic Planning Department of Prime Minister.2017. Rancangan Pembangunan Malaysia.http://epu.gov.my/ms/rmk/rancangan-malaysiakesebelas-2016-2020

Emmons, K. M. 2010. Perspectives on environmental action: Reflection and revision through practical experience. The Journal of Environmental Education 29(1): 34-44.

Erikson, E. H. 1963. Childhood and Society. New York: Norton.

Goldman, D., Hansmann, R., Cincera, J., Radovic, V., Telešiene, A. Balzekiene, A. & Vávra, J. 2020. Education for environmental citizenship and responsible environmental behaviour. In Conceptualizing Environmental Citizenship for 21st Century Education. Environmental Discourses in Science Education. 4th edition, edited by Hadjichambis A. et al. Springer: Cham.

Hanifah Mahat, Mohmadisa Hashim, Yazid Saleh, Nasir Nayan, Samsudin Suhaili & Saiyidatina Balkhis Norkhaidi. 2020. Determination of physical geographical components in the construction of environmental sustainability awareness index of the Malaysian society. Asia-Pacific Social Science Review, 20(3):142-152.

Hanifah Mahat, Mohmadisa Hashim, Yazid Saleh, Nasir Nayan & Saiyidatina Balkhis Norkhaidi. 2020. Transformation of education for sustainable development through low carbon schools community program. Journal of Turkish Science Education 17(3): 429-442.

Hart, P. & K. Nolan. 1999. A critical analysis of research in environmental education. Studies in Science Education 34: 1-69.

Hart, P. 2003. Teachers’ Thinking in Environmental Education: Consciousness and Responsibility. New York: Peter Lang.

Hines, J.M., Hungerford, H.R. & Tomera, A.N. 1987. Analysis and synthesis of research on responsible environmental behaviour: A meta-analysis. The Journal of Environmental Education 18: 1-8.

Horton, D. 2006. Demonstrating environmental citizenship? A study of everyday life among green activists. In Environmental Citizenship, edited by Dobson, A. & Bell, D. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Jagers, S. C. 2009. In search of the ecological citizen. Environmental Politics 18(1): 18-36.

Jagers, S.C. & Simon M. 2010. Ecological citizens: Identifying values and beliefs that support individual environmental responsibility among swedes. Sustainability 2(4): 1055-1079.

Jagers, S.C., Johan M. & Simon M. 2014. Ecological citizenship: A driver of pro-environmental behaviour? Environmental Politics 23(3): 434-453.

Jamilah, A., Hasrina, M., Hamidah, A. H. & Juliana, A. W. 2011. Pengetahuan, sikap dan amalan masyarakat Malaysia terhadap isu alam sekitar. Akademika 81(3):103- 115.

Jessica, D., Hanifah, M., Mohmadisa, H. & Yazid, S.2020. Pengetahuan dan amalan penjagaan alam sekitar dalam kalangan pelajar pra-sekolah. Akademika 90(1): 4-13.

Jensen, B. B. & Schnack, K. 1997. The action competence approach in environmental education. Environmental Education Research 3: 163-178.

Joppke, C. 2012. Citizenship and Immigration. Ethnicities 12(6): 844-863.

Joseph, H. 2017. An Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment. 4th edition. United Kingdom: Pearson.

Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. 1970. Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement 30(1): 607-610.

Landell, K. 1997. Management by Menu. London: Wiley & Sons Inc.

Leff, H. L. 1978. Experience, Environment, and Human Potentials. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

McClaren, M. & Hammond, B. 2005. Integrating education and action in environmental education. In Environmental Education and Advocacy: Changing Perspectives of Ecology and Education, edited by E.

A. Johnson & M. J. Mappin, 267-291. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Mohamad Suhaily Yusri, C. N. 2002. Pengantar Persekitaran Fizikal. Tanjong Malim, Perak: Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

Mohamad Fazli, S. & Teoh, Y. Y. 2006. Tahap keprihatinan alam sekitar dan amalan kepenggunaan hijau pengguna di Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities 14(2): 95-109. 

Mohd Anuar, J. & Mohammad Nazri, M. J. 1999. Emisi ekzos dari kenderaan bermotor, kesannya ke atas atmosfera dan kaedah pengurangannya: Satu kajian. Jurnal Mekanikal 2: 12-27.

Mohd Isa, N. K. 2016. Sustainable campus and academic staff’s awareness and behaviour in Malaysia’s institutions of higher learning: A case study of UPSI. GEOGRAFIA OnlineTM Malaysian Journal of Society and Space 12(6): 89 - 99.

Nasir Nayan, Hanifah Mahat, Mohmadisa Hashim, Yazid Saleh & Saiyidatina Balkhis Norkhaidi. 2020. Climate literacy awareness among preservice teachers in Malaysia. Cakrawala Pendidikan 39(1): 89-101.

National Geography. 2019. Geographic skills index. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/geographicskills/

National Institute for Literacy. 2008. Developing Early Literacy. Maryland. https://lincs.ed.gov/publications/pdf/NELPReport09.pdf

Neo, S. M., Choong, W. W. & Rahmalan, A. 2017. Public environmental awareness and behaviour in Malaysia. Asian Journal of Quality of Life 2(5): 43-53.

Nur Nasliza Arina Mohamad Nasir & Jamilah Ahmad.2015. Facebook dan media massa: keberkesanan dalam menyampaikan mesej alam sekitar kepada masyarakat. Akademika 85(1): 33-46.

Salwati, Y. 2013. Pembinaan dan pengesahan instrumen literasi alam sekitar pelajar Sekolah Menengah. (PhD Thesis). Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Schusler, T. M., Krasny, M. E., Peters, S. P., & Decker, D. J. 2009. Developing citizens and communities through youth environmental action. Environmental Education Research 15 (1): 111-127. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620802710581.

Seyfang, G. 2006. Ecological citizenship and sustainable consumption: Examining local organic food networks. Journal of Rural Studies 22(4): 383-395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2006.01.003.

Stapp, W. B., Wals, A., & Stankorb, S. L. 1996. Environmental Education for Empowerment: Action Research and Community Problem-Solving. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt.

Steenbergen, B. 1994. The Condition of Citizenship.London: SAGE Publications Ltd.

Tompkins, E. L. 2005. Planning for climate change in small islands: insights from national hurricane preparedness in the Cayman Islands. Global Environmental Change 15: 139-149.

UNESCO. 2011. Assessing and monitoring literacy and numeracy. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/apia/education/literacy-and-numeracy/

United Nations. 2017. Education for sustainable development goals. France. Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002474/247444e.pdf

Vacher, H. L. 2014. Looking at the multiple meanings of numeracy, quantitative literacy, and quantitative reasoning. Numeracy 7(1): 1–14.https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1167&context=numeracy

Wolf, J., Katrina, B. & Declan, C. 2009. Ecological citizenship and climate change: Perceptions and practice. Environmental Politics 18(4): 503-521.https://doi.org/10.1080/09644010903007377

World Wildlife Organisation Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia).2002. Conserving River Basin. WWF Living Waters Programme. http://www.wwf.org.my/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater_main/freshwater_conserving_river_basins/

This material may be protected under Copyright Act which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials.
You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research.
Back to search
Installed and configured by Bahagian Automasi, Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris
If you have enquiries, kindly contact us at pustakasys@upsi.edu.my or 016-3630263. Office hours only.