Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities

Studying the Influence of ICTs on Environmental Adaptation: A Quantitative Analysis of Environmental Activists’ Attitudes

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

H. Abdollahyan 1
Z. Asadi 2

1 Professor of Communication, Department of Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD Student of Communication, Department of Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22035/isih.2019.3296.3551
Abstract
This paper addresses the issue of using ICTs to improve environmental standards of Iran.  The objective of this paper is to examine the impact of ICTs on Iranians’ environmental adaptation. The paper contributes to the production of knowledge in the area of promoting sustainable development based on the necessities of Iran's environment.  We used a theoretical synthesis that establishes a logical link between ecological sustainability, community empowerment, and participatory development.  Methodologically, we committed to Jensen and Jankowski’s approach while using a quantitative approach to collect data.  Some of the findings indicate that the use of ICTs has a direct and significant effect on the friendly approach of the people towards the environment (r = 0.4). On the other hand, the mean effect of ICTs on information capital is 22.84, and the mean effect of ICTs on environmental awareness is 25.62.  Also, the mean impact of ICTs on environmental empowerment (26.40) and the mean effect of ICTs on environmental participation (53.61) show a higher range than the expected mean.  It means that there is good awareness of the application of ICTs in Iran’s environment.  Moreover, an analysis of the structural equations modeling shows that ICTs with a path coefficient of β = 0.58 affected information capital. Different results indicate that information capital affects environmental awareness, environmental empowerment, and environmental participation with the path coefficients of β = 0.65, β = 0.45 and β = 0.52 respectively.

Keywords

information capital
information & communication technologies
environmental communication
environmental empowerment
environmental participation

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 06 June 2018
  • Revise Date 17 August 2018
  • Accept Date 25 August 2018

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