Environmental Knowledge and use of Urban Services: an Analysis of Citizens' Consumption Behavior Using Structural Equation Modeling (Case Study: Rasht City)

Subject Areas : Urban and Regional Planning Studies

Mohammd Eskandari Node ¹ , Yaser gholipour ² , Salman Feyzi ³ , Amin Hassanzadeh ⁴

1 - Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Ph.D Candidate, Geography & Urban Planning, Zanjan University, Zanjan, Iran
3 - Ph.D in Geography & Urban Planning, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran
4 - M.A in Geography & Urban Planning, Ferdousi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Received: 2020-07-13 Accepted : 2022-12-24 Published : 2024-02-20

Keywords: Rasht City, Urban services, consumption behavior, environmental knowledge,

Abstract :

Introduction: Encouraging citizens to use public services to reduce urban pollution is one of the important management priorities in cities. Based on this, the investigation of environmental knowledge as an influencing factor on the behavioral intentions of citizens as consumers of urban services can determine their tendency towards using these services.Research Aim: The present research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of environmental knowledge on the use of urban services in Rasht city.Methodology: In terms of practical purpose, in terms of the nature and method of descriptive-analytical, documentary, survey, which was carried out using a researcher-made questionnaire. The statistical population was the households of Rasht city, based on Cochran's formula, a sample size of 384 people was selected from among them and they were asked by two-stage cluster sampling method. The validity of the questionnaire has been confirmed based on face validity and its reliability using Cronbach's alpha (0.763). The relationship between the index and the corresponding items has been investigated in the measurement model (first-order factor analysis). Composite reliability, average variance extracted and convergent validity for the research indicators have been calculated and verified. Research hypotheses have been investigated with the help of structural equation modeling process.Studied Areas: The geographical area of the current research is the city of Rasht.Results: The amount of findings shows that there is a correlation between environmental knowledge and residents' approach to using urban services (Beta=0.51 and t=4.1) and the amount of use of these services (Beta=0.30 and t=3.95). t) there is a significant statistical relationship; Also, there is a significant relationship between residents' approach to urban services and the amount of service usage (Beta=0.68 and t=6.8).Conclusion: Environmental awareness and knowledge of citizens is effective in the use of urban services and the sustainability of these interactions; So that the behavior of a responsible and informed citizen shows a clear difference compared to others.

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