A STUDY ON TEACHER CANDIDATES' RECYCLING BEHAVIORS: A MODEL APPROACH WITH THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR

Abstract

This research explains determinants of recycling behaviors of teacher candidates utilizing Ajzen's theory of planned behavior (TPB). A total of 232 teacher candidates in two campus universities were involved in the study. The data were collected by administration of a survey designed to assess constructs regarding recycling behaviors in a seven-point Likert scale. Multiple regression analyses indicated that recycling behaviors could be predicted by behavioral intentions, explaining 25% of variance. On the other hand, no statistically significant association was observed between recycling behaviors and perceived behavioral control. The linear combination of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were found to be significantly correlated with teacher candidates' recycling intentions. About 31% of variance in behavioral intention scores could be accounted by the linear combination of these significant determinants. Findings suggest that students with more favorable attitudes and subjective norms, as well as greater perceived behavioral control tend to have stronger intention to engage in a recycling behavior. Additionally, stronger intention could result in recycling behavior. From the findings; some information about the significant determinants of recycling behaviors of Turkish teacher candidates as well as factors associated with the inconvenience of recycling can be derived. This research study suggests that TPB is also a promising framework to predict recycling behaviors of Turkish teacher candidates