ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to explore students’ environmental perceptions and some of the determinants of these perceptions at the University of Johannesburg in the Gauteng province, South Africa. Students were asked if they perceive a positive future for the environment in Gauteng. Study results revealed that a large majority of students were neutral on whether they perceived a positive future for the environment in Gauteng, which may indicate their indifference or ambivalence to environmental issues in the province. The findings also alluded to the significance of gender (females), hometown origin (urban), and age as determinants of students’ perceptions of the environment. Variables like faculty and campus were not strong determinants of students’ perceptions of the environment. These results may be considered in the design of environmental policies and education meant to improve environmental behaviour in the province.

摘要

本研究的目的是在南非豪登省的约翰内斯堡大学探索学生的环境感知以及这些感知的一些决定因素。学生们被问及他们是否认为豪登省的环境有一个积极的未来。研究结果显示，绝大多数学生对豪登省的环境前景是否乐观持中立态度，这可能表明他们对该省的环境问题漠不关心或矛盾。研究结果还暗示了性别（女性）、家乡（城市）和年龄作为学生对环境感知的决定因素的重要性。教师和校园等变量并不是学生对环境感知的重要决定因素。