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Master's Thesis.pdf (1.91 MB)

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Toward Smart City Goals: Promoting Sustainable Commutes among University Students

Isaacs, Emily Grace
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1555460205156224

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Agricultural and Extension Education.
To address persistent concerns regarding anthropogenic impacts on environmental quality that contribute to degradations in natural process and public health, mitigation efforts have increasingly involved the transportation sector. Regional efforts in Columbus, Ohio seek to reduce the city's high single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) rate through the utilization of sustainable transportation to improve air quality, lessen emissions, and foster 'smart' development. Accordingly, sustainable transportation modes are identified as personal vehicle alternatives through which collective carbon dioxide emissions can be lessened. This study integrated constructs from the theory of planned behavior and elements of Community-Based Social Marketing to assess the role of message framing, personal values, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on college students' sustainable commuting motivations and intentions. Digital message frames pertained to the environmental benefits of sustainable commuting, the personal health benefits of sustainable commuting, the opportunities for connecting with community members through sustainable commutes, and the tangibility of financial savings through sustainable commutes. Respondents' personal values, prior commuting frequencies, and demographics were also investigated. Findings from this study showed that the digital messages did increase students' intentions and motivations to commute sustainably, but relative to the environmental quality message frame baseline, alternative frames were not significant predictors of motivation and intention. Importantly, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were predictors of students' sustainable commuting intentions and motivations. Communicators should learn audience characteristics to more thoroughly address barriers to sustainable commutes and increase positive attitudes toward sustainable commuting, generate sustainable commuting community norms, and increase the perceived ease of commuting sustainably. To improve the effectiveness of sustainable commuting communications, message frames should leverage norms and maintain a common theme of how sustainable commuting benefits environmental quality. Messages should be diversified in format and specific to individuals' motives and characteristics, increasing the likelihood that positive motivations and intentions will result in sustained behavioral change.
Mary Rodriguez, Dr. (Advisor)
Joy Rumble, Dr. (Committee Member)
171 p.
Behavioral Sciences; Environmental Education; Sustainability
Sustainability; Communication; Transportation; Education for Sustainability; Smart City; Environmentalism; University

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Isaacs, E. G. (2019). Toward Smart City Goals: Promoting Sustainable Commutes among University Students [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1555460205156224

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Isaacs, Emily. Toward Smart City Goals: Promoting Sustainable Commutes among University Students . 2019. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1555460205156224.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Isaacs, Emily. "Toward Smart City Goals: Promoting Sustainable Commutes among University Students ." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1555460205156224

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1555460205156224
466
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.