A drop in the bucket: Collective efficacy perceptions affect waste minimising behaviours

The goal of this thesis was to inform a social marketing effort designed to increase environmentally friendly behaviours in an effort to ensure a more sustainable future. This study attempted to gain a better understanding of the discrepancy that exists between pro-environmental concerns and pro-environmental actions by exploring efficacy perceptions. Efficacy beliefs were compared for three groups of individuals: 1) environmentally active/members of an environmental group; 2) environmentally active/not members of an environmental group; 3) environmentally inactive and not members of an environmental group. Six focus groups were conducted and interviewees were recruited from the Earth Carers' organisation and the suburb of Subiaco in Western Australia. The results indicated that having confidence in one's ability to perform waste minimising activities (self-efficacy) and believing that one's own actions are effective in reducing waste (solution efficacy) were related to being environmentally active and belonging to a defined environmental group.

Grantor dc:publisher

Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia

Year dc:date

2003

Author dc:creator

• Bonniface, Leesa N.

• social marketing
• waste management
• self-efficacy
• Sustainability

Repository record dc:identifier

https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/7

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ro.ecu.edu.au:theses-1007