The role of general and specific pro-environmental education in household waste management in Malaysia: Evidence from quantile regression

Abstract

This study uses integrated behavioral model as the guiding framework to examine the role of general and specific environmental education in promoting household pro-environmental behavior. The data collected from a convenience sample of 213 household representatives using self-administered questionnaires were analyzed using OLS and quantile regressions. The results show that specific knowledge, intention, and salience of behavior have positive effects on pro-environmental behavior, while environmental constraints have negative effects. The effects vary across different quantiles of pro-environmental behavior, which imply that different emphasis and strategies should be placed based on different levels of pro-environmental behavior to encourage such behavior. The result of the joint effect of general and specific environmental knowledge shows that specific knowledge is a significant factor of pro-environmental behavior, but not general environmental knowledge. Intention becomes more important in encouraging pro-environmental behavior as the gap between general and specific environmental knowledge widens. The overall result suggests that different strategies should be designed and implemented based on different levels of behavior in encouraging household pro-environmental behavior, especially for those with low-level of pro-environmental behavior but with high intention as they require improved specific environmental knowledge and skills, support and facilities, and recognition of their pro-environmental behavior.