UNAM
Residential water use:
Marcos Bustos, Luz Ma. Flores,
& Patricia Andrade
A MODEL OF PERSONAL VARIABLES FOR PREDICTING WATER
CONSERVATION BEHAVIOR IN MEXICO CITY
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoFES Zaragoza
Extended range of proenvironmental action
Nowadays, the research of proenvironmental behavior (PEB) is increasing the number of
problems of resources conservation that has begun to be analyzed.
The problem of water conservation has emerged as one the most important
ecological problems in many regions an cities around the world.
Water comsumption
The ways of reducing the comsumption of fresh water in different human uses has became an
important task for social researchers. The house is a new endeavor for social sciencies. One important possibility that implies in domestic
study of the ways to reduce the comuse
Psychology and the promotion of conservation behavior
Some authors in the area of conservation behavior conceive proenvironmental action (PEB) as a group of effective, deliberated, and anticipated actions that result in the
protection of environmental resources (Grob, 1990; Corral-Verdugo & Pinheiro, 2004).
Other defying characteristics are solidarity and austerity.
Conceptual framework for PEB
Causal Variables (Stern y Oskamp, 1987). It's a jerarquical model that includes variables from sociostructural until psicosocial, personal and behavioral ones.
Applied Perspective (Cook y Berrenberg, 1981). It's a model focused mainly on the promotion of PEB in different alternatives.
Meta-analysis findings (Hines et al. 1986/87)
Variable Corrected correlation coefficient
Verbal commitment .491
Locus of control .365
Attitude .347
Personal responsibility .328
Knowledge .299
Educational level .185
Income .162
Economic orientation .160
Age -.151
Gender .075
Predictors of water conservation
Values (Pierce, 1979) Antecedents and responsability (Gordon, 1982) Motives (Hamilton, 1983) Acttitudes (Kantola, 1982; Aitken, 1994; Lam, 1999) Proenvironmental Competency (Corral-Verdugo,
2002)
Objectives
To Construct a model for predicting PEB Test the model Identify advantges and disadvantages
Derive Implications
Problem of research
Which is the structural fitness of the model of PEB for water conservation?, The included variables in the model are locus control, beliefs, knowledge, motives, and skills.
Hipotheses
We expect finding positive statistical relationships between: Motives , skills, and PEB ; the motives will mediate effectos of skills, risk perception, and locus of control.
The skills will mediate the effects of beliefs an diponibility of water and Knoeledge.
Research strategie
Tipe of study: Correlational, path analysis.
Method
SampleSample:: 349 hosekeepers from Mexico City, 349 hosekeepers from Mexico City, M edge = 45 years, highschool, $ 7400 (616 USD).M edge = 45 years, highschool, $ 7400 (616 USD).
Procedure:Procedure: Indivudual interview with scales Indivudual interview with scales previuosly validaded and accptable consistency previuosly validaded and accptable consistency
levels.levels.
Results
The results were first from a regression analysis. Later a path analysis was
conducted.
Goodness of fitness indices
X2 = 17.1, df =13. p = 0.19
NFI = 0.99
NNFI = 0.99
RMSEA = 0.03
Model
Direct effects on PEB
Motives PEB ß = .13 I. Skills PEB ß = .31 D. Skills PEB ß = .12 Internal Locus PEB ß = .13
Direct Effects between I. V. I. Skills Motives ß = .27 Health Risk Motives ß = .16 Internal Locus motives ß = .13 Beliefs Ob I. Skills ß = .21 Internal Locus I. Skills ß = .17 D. Skills I. Skills ß = .16 Water Supply I. Skills ß = .14 Knowledge I. Skills ß = .11
Total Effects
I. Skills
Internal Locus
D. Skills
Motives
.35
.29
.17
.16
PEBPersonal use of
water
Results
Variable R2
1 Health Risk 0.101
2 Beliefs responsabity for conserving water
0.206
3 Socioenvironmental Motives 0.180
4 D. Skills 0.164
5 I. Skills 0.236
6 Personal use of water 0.255
Discusion
The statistical relatinships Hiptheses and explanation Generality of results Theorical perspectives, new research
problems Intervetion perspectives
Epilog
New interrogants Psycosocial interventions Overcoming problems