Environmentally-Literate Citizenry among Malaysian Youth to Produce Responsible Environmental Behaviour (Warganegara Celik Alam Sekitar dalam Kalangan Belia Malaysia bagi Melahirkan Tingkahlaku Alam Sekitar yang Bertanggungjawab)
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.
Keywords: attitude; behavior; awareness; environment; young Malaysia
Abstrak
Kajian kuantitatif ini meneroka kewarganegaraan celik alam sekitar untuk menghasilkan tingkah laku alam sekitar yang bertanggungjawab dalam kalangan belia Malaysia yang melibatkan 1,000 belia Malaysia yang dipilih dari lima zon wilayah (Utara, Tengah, Selatan, Pantai Timur, dan Malaysia Timur). Teknik pensampelan rawak berstrata berdasarkan jantina, umur dan lokasi digunakan untuk memilih responden. Instrumen kajian adalah soal selidik yang melibatkan dua konstruk; literasi alam sekitar (atmosfera, hidrosfera, litosfera, biosfera) dan tingkah laku alam sekitar yang bertanggungjawab. Analisis deskriptif digunakan untuk mewakili tahap, frekuensi, dan peratusan. Sementara korelasi Pearson digunakan untuk mengetahui hubungan antara literasi alam sekitar dan tingkah laku alam sekitar yang bertanggungjawab dalam kalangan belia Malaysia. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa tahap literasi alam sekitar berada pada tahap tinggi (M = 4.050, SP = .611) begitu juga semua sub-konstruk pada tahap tinggi, atmosfera (M = 3.884, SP = .638), hidrosfera (M = 4.083, SP = .725), litosfera (M = 3.964, SP = .683) dan biosfera (M = 4.269, SP = .739). Manakala tingkah laku alam sekitar yang bertanggungjawab berada pada tahap purata tinggi dengan nilai M = 3.868 dan SP = .544. Korelasi antara literasi alam sekitar dan tingkah laku alam sekitar yang bertanggungjawab dalam kalangan belia Malaysia menunjukkan kekuatan hubungan yang lemah (r = 2.75, p = .000). Oleh itu, ini menunjukkan bahawa persekitaran akan mempengaruhi kewarganegaraan celik dalam kalangan belia Malaysia untuk menghasilkan tingkah laku alam sekitar yang bertanggungjawab. Diharap melalui kajian ini dapat memberikan landasan penelitian yang lebih lanjut mengenai tahap dan potensi literasi dan tingkah laku alam sekitar yang bertanggungjawab terhadap kelestarian alam sekitar dalam masyarakat Malaysia di samping meningkatkan kesedaran mengenai masalah alam sekitar yang serius.
Kata kunci: sikap; tingkah laku; kesedaran; persekitaran; belia Malaysia
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