Predicting recycling behaviors of preschool teachers by incorporating additional variables into the theory of planned behavior

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Temel Eğitim Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2018

Öğrenci: EZGİ ŞENYURT

Danışman: REFİKA OLGAN

Özet:

This study scrutinized the factors determining preschool teachers’ recycling intentions and behaviors utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Herein, the present study included the TPB constructs (behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, control beliefs, attitude toward behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, and behavior), and additional variables (moral norms, convenience, and past behavior). Data were collected by 584 preschool teachers working in public schools in the nine districts of Ankara (Altındağ, Çankaya, Etimesgut, Gölbaşı, Keçiören, Mamak, Pursaklar, Sincan, and Yenimahalle) in Turkey through ‘‘ Demographic Information Questionnaire’’, and ‘‘Recycling Behavior Scale for Preschool Teachers’’. A model was developed to investigate the inter-relationships among the constructs and analyzed using path analysis in relation with structural equation modeling which did not cover past recycling behavior construct due to discriminant validity concerns. The proposed model explained 44% of the variance in recycling intentions, and 50% of the variance in recycling behaviors. Results revealed that behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and control beliefs significantly determined attitude toward behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, respectively. Morever, preschool teachers’ recycling intentions were significantly determined by perceived behavioral control followed by attitude toward recycling, subjective norms, and convenience, but not moral norms. Furthermore, their recycling behaviors were strongly predicted by their recycling intentions, and weakly determined by their corresponding perceived behavioral control. However, convenience, and moral norms did not contribute to the explanation of their recycling behaviors. Results highlighted that an extended. TPB model can be useful for examining teachers’ recycling intentions and behaviors.