An analysis of Jamaican students' environmental knowledge, attitudes and activities at a sixth grade level in rural and urban communities

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the cognitive and affective components of environmental awareness in primary school students, and their differentiation based on demographic area, gender, and involvement in environmentally oriented activities. Data were collected from a sample of 228 Grade 6 students (139 urban, 89 rural; 76 boys, 152 girls) from six schools, using three researcher-developed instruments. Results of the data analysis revealed that: 1) there was a significant positive relationship between environmental knowledge and attitude test scores; 2) students with a broader base of environmental information also had more positive attitudes towards environmental issues; 3) there was a strong relationship between demographic area, environmental knowledge, and attitudes; students in the urban areas were generally more knowledgeable and more positive in attitude than their rural counterparts; 4) environmental activities and gender had a minimal bearing on knowledge and attitude test scores; 5) attitudes were the best predictor of knowledge, followed by demographic area and sex to a lesser extent; and 6) environmental activities were insignificant as a predictor of environmental knowledge