To Segregate or Not To Segregate: A Study on the Factors Influencing College Students to Practice Waste Segregation

Abstract

The study aims to to explore the factors that influence the intention of college students to practice garbage segregation. Particularly, it seeks to determine correlation of certain behavior domains (attitude towards waste segregation, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control), socio-demographic profile (degree program, sex, economic status and religion) and environmental education with their intention to segregate. Participants of the study were enrolled college students from the largest colleges of University of the Philippines—Manila and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Stratified random sampling were utilized to arrive at the desired sample size per university and degree programs. The total sample (N=193) was composed of 88 students from UPM and 105 students from PLM. All degree programs were represented accordingly through compositional percentages. Self-made questionnaires were utilized according to the concepts of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Pre-test results yielded high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0..901) and validity was checked by experts on social psychology and sociology. Survey forms were distributed to randomly picked students and willing students for interview were recorded. Data were analyzed with the use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences to identify the descriptive and correlational statistics. Means were computed and Pearson r was applied to identify the correlation values. The results showed that the domains of attitude towards waste segregation (r= 0.342)and perceived behavioral control (r=0.311) have significant contributions to the students intention to segregate. Meanwhile, the students’ socio-demographic profile and environmental education proved to have insignificant correlations.