World Applied Sciences Journal

14 (Exploring Pathways to Sustainable Living in Malaysia: Solving the Current Environmental Issues): 83-87, 2011
ISSN 1818-4952; © IDOSI Publications, 2011

Environmental Knowledge and Attitude among Students in Sabah

1
Rosta Harun, 2Lim Kuang Hock and 1Fadhilah Othman

1
Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Studies,
Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia
2
Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Malaysia

Abstract: Environmental awareness among students is highly influenced by their background, knowledge,
attitude and sensitivity towards the environment. The objectives of this study are to identify level of knowledge
on environmental literacy and attitude towards environmental issues that are occurring in Malaysia presently
among students in Sabah, Malaysia. Multi-stage stratified sampling was used to select the samples. Data was
collected using self-administered questionnaire which was developed by expert panel which consisted of
lecturers and teachers through two sessions of focus group discussions (FGD). The items developed for the
questionnaires took into consideration the environmental problems which have existed locally as well as
cultural sensitivities of local community. Pilot test among 50 form four secondary school students show
moderate level of internal l consistency of knowledge (Cronbach Alpha -0.68) and attitude (Cronbach alpha 0.72)
domains. 1106 (95%) of 1200 sample responded the study. The result show that in general, students in Sabah
particularly from Form 4 level have high level of environmental knowledge except for several items which
measure the current environmental issues in Malaysia such as Carbon dioxide and climate change. Their
attitudes are influenced by the level of knowledge that they have concerning the environment.

Key words: Environmental knowledge Environmental Attitude Sabah Secondary school students

INTRODUCTION Environmental Knowledge and Attitude: Knowledge is a

precondition for environmental awareness to ignite in
Awareness towards critical issues in environment individuals. It is the students’ ability to understand and
has gained much of attention worldwide. Many debates evaluate the impact of a society on the ecosystem [1].
and discussion have been carried out either locally or Rational actions toward the environment are the
globally to find the best solution or approach to solve translation of knowledge that individuals have. High level
environmental problem. As for a developing country like of knowledge on the environment will create positive
Malaysia, development is still progressing rapidly
attitude towards the environment [2] referred to [3] as a
especially in technology and industries. Even though
belief and feelings that individual have for the
environmental sustainability is highlighted in many
environment. Knowledge increase awareness which
policies and regulations, yet the right values towards
combination would motivate environmentally responsible
environment is always neglected when it comes to
actions. Young generations especially teenagers are actions [4].
the group of people that will determine the future of Student’s attitude towards the environment is
environment in Malaysia. In addition to that, future conceptualized as their verbal and actual commitment,
generation needs to strengthen their knowledge and motivation and effect concerning nature and
understanding about the environment and be more environmental issues [5]. Attitude is also a complex
aware on world’s current condition [1]. Formal education mental construct (perception) which emerges out of
in school is among the best tools to convey adequate an integration of an individual’s belief and values
knowledge and inculcate the right environmental values system [6]. The dimension in environmental attitude can
in young generation specifically students. be divided into three major parts which are environmental

Corresponding Author: Rosta Harun, Department of Environmental Management,

Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia.
Tel: +03-89466749/0192641944.
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worldview; environmental concern and environmental attitude toward environment. Several items in each domain
commitment [7]. are reworded into negative question to enhance the
Environmental awareness among students is highly validity of the study Respondents are given choice of
influenced by their background, knowledge, attitude and highly agree, not agree, not sure, agree and highly agree
sensitivity towards the environment. The objectives of for each item .
this study are to identify level of knowledge on
environmental literacy among student of Sabah and to Field Survey: During the beginning of data collection
identify their level of attitudes towards environmental session, respondents were briefed on the questionnaire in
issues that are occurring in Malaysia currently. detail. Besides that, written instructions on how to fill and
complete the questionnaire were also included in the
Methodology questionnaire. Respondents were given assurance of the
Sampling: Multi-stage stratified sampling was used in confidentiality of the information given. They were also
this study. Schools were stratified by urban and rural as requested to withhold their identity by not writing their
first strata and district as second strata. Nine schools from name on the questionnaire. Detail clarifications were
urban area and thirteen schools from rural areas were given by research team to the respondent/s who did not
selected using simple random sampling. A list of all understand certain the item in the questionnaire.
students of selected school was then obtained from the Researchers comprised of officers from District Education
schools administrators and simple random sampling was Office School and Trained Research Assistants from
used to select respondents (50 from each school) using Universiti Putra Malaysia.
random numbers generated by Epi-info 6.0.4. A Total of
Data Analysis: Data were analyzed using SPSS version
sample size of 1200 was calculated based on finding from
16. Descriptive statistic was used to describe the
pilot study, setting the maximum tolerable error at 3%,
characteristic of sample and proportion of answer by
design effect of 0.67, interclass correlation coefficient of
respondents for each item.
0.5, average proportion of students per strata at 0.33 as
well as non response rate of 10%.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Study Instrument: The self-administered questionnaire
A total of 1106 out of 1200 students responded to
was used for data collection. The questionnaire was
the questionnaire at response rate of 95%. 84 students
developed by expert panel which consist of lecturers and
did not respond due to absent from school on the day of
teachers who have vast experience in environmental
the survey where important variables were not filled.
education through two sessions of focus group
Therefore, a total of 1106 students with complete
discussion (FGD). The items developed for the
questionnaires were included in the analysis. From the
questionnaires took into consideration theenvironmental
1106 respondents, 428 (39.3%) were male and 661 (6.7%)
problem which exist locally and cultural sensitivities of the were female. Respondents from schools in rural areas
local community. The questionnaire consisted of several make up 577 of respondents (52.2%) while urban, 529
component, namely (i) Demographic background; (ii) (47.8%).
Knowledge; (iii) Perception; (iv) Attitude; (iv) Behavioral; The distribution of responses for items pertaining
(v) Sensitivity and (vi) Legislation aspect of environment. to respondents’ knowledge on environment is shown
The questionnaire pilot was tested upon 50 students in Table 1. Several results showed that Form 4
from Form 4grade in Sabah. Result of the Pilot test students demonstrated good level of knowledge of the
showed moderate level internal consistency of each environment except for several lists. Approximately
domain of Knowledge (Cronbach Alpha-0.68) and attitude only 30% of respondents know that siltation is the main
(Cronbach alpha 0.72). Minor correction was made cause of river pollution in Malaysia, while for items like
based on the feedback form pilot test. The protocol complaint line for the Department of Environment, the
and instrument used were approved by the Ministry of increasing of world population exceeding 6 billion and
Education and the Sabah State Education Department. contribution of carbon dioxide to climate change had
There were 27 and 12 items in knowledge and attitude scored 50%. Item that mention on sixty percent of our
domain to assess the respondent’s knowledge and body is water also had 50% scores.

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World Appl. Sci. J., 14 (Exploring Pathways to Sustainable Living in Malaysia: Solving the Current Environmental Issues): 83-87

Table 1: Level of Form 4 students' knowledge toward the Environment

Highly agreen(%) Diasgreen(%) Not suren(%) Agreen(%) Highly agree n(%)
Item ------------------------ ------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------------- --------------------------
(n=Population) Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural
1(n=1071) 68 (13.2) 43 (7.7) 53 (10.3) 71 (12.8) 133 (25.8) 164 (29.5) 135 (26.2) 179 (32.2) 126 (24.5) 99 (17.8)
2(n=1093) 7 (1.3) 17 (3.0) 15 (2.9) 32 (5.6) 77 (14.7) 112 (19.6) 166 (31.7) 173 (30.4) 258 (49.3) 236 (41.4)
3(n=1072) 7(1.4) 11 (2.0) 21 (4.1) 26 (4.7) 182 (35.3) 193 (34.6) 144 (28.0) 168 (30.2) 161 (31.3) 159 (28.5)
4(n=1099) 3(0.6) 6 (1.1) 2 (0.4) 4 (0.7) 6 (1.1) 3 (0.5) 69 (13.1) 81 (14.2) 44.8 (84.8) 477 (83.5)
5(n=1092) 18(3.4) 20 (3.5) 10 (1.9) 28 (4.9) 37 (7.1) 50 (8.8) 100 (20.9) 119 (20.9) 348 (66.7) 353 (61.9)
6(n=1100) 351 (66.5) 363 (63.5) 97 (18.4) 132 (23.1) 14 (2.7) 27 (4.7) 18 (3.4) 21 (3.7) 48 (9.1) 29 (5.1)
7(n=1098) 2 (0.4) 6 (1.1) 3 (0.6) 5 (0.9) 98 (18.6) 110 (19.3) 251 (47.6) 246 (43.1) 173 (32.8) 204 (35.7)
8(n=1076) 16 (3.1) 22 (3.9) 53 (10.3) 61 (10.9) 285 (55.4) 294 (52.3) 107 (20.8) 131 (23.3) 53 (10.3) 54 (9.6)
9(n=1087) 15 (2.9) 17 (3.0) 20 (3.8) 37 (6.6) 106 (20.4) 125 (22.2) 148 (28.5) 169 (30.0) 231 (44.4) 216 (38.3)
10(n=1082) 30 (5.8) 39 (6.9) 40 (7.8) 56 (9.9) 116 (22.5) 158 (27.9) 168 (32.6) 185 (32.7) 162 (31.4) 129 (22.6)
11(n=1099) 2 (0.4) 4 (0.7) 3 (0.6) 7 (1.2) 30 (5.7) 20 (3.5) 151 (28.8) 141 (24.5) 338 (64.5) 403 (70.1)
12(n=1100) 4 (0.8) 4 (0.7) 6 (1.1) 12 (2.1) 35 (6.7) 27 (4.7) 189 (35.0) 195 (33.9) 292 (55.6) 337 (58.6)
13(n=1100) 13 (2.5) 12 (2.1) 27 (5.1) 24 (4.2) 42 (8.0) 39 (6.8) 179 (34.1) 169 (34.1) 264 (50.3) 304 (52.9)
14(n=1100) 5 (1.0) 6 (1.0) 5 (1.0) 12 (2.1) 46 (8.8) 63 (11.0) 169 (32.2) 183 (31.8) 300 (57.1) 311 (54.1)
15(n=1101) 9 (1.7) 10 (1.7) 5 (1.0) 10 (1.7) 31 (2.5) 23 (4.0) 109 (20.8) 111 (19.3) 389 (74.1) 422 (73.3)
16(n=1096) 272 (52) 235 (41.0) 64 (16.1) 108 (18.8) 85 (16.3) 110 (19.2) 39 (75) 53 (9.2) 43 (8.2) 67 (11.7)
17(n=1099) 7 (1.3) 12 (2.1) 19 (3.6) 23 (40) 51 (9.7) 76 (13.3) 106 (20.2) 163 (28.4) 343 (65.2) 299 (52.2)
18(n=1098) 22 (4.2) 21 (37) 20 (2.8) 29 (5.1) 214 (40.8) 206 (36.0) 155 (29.5) 201 (35.1) 114 (21.7) 116 (20.2)
19(n=1079) 65 (12.5) 33 (5.9) 63 (12.1) 34 (6.1) 233 (44.8) 284 (50.8) 108 (20.8) 148 (26.5) 51 (98) 60 (10.7)
20(n=1079) 10(1.9) 4 (0.7) 8 (1.5) 11 (2.0) 380 (72.9) 422 (75.6) 73 (14.0) 73 (13.1) 50 (9.6) 48 (8.6)
21(n=1076) 4 (0.8) 13 (2.3) 3 (0.6) 8 (1.4) 462 (89.0) 409 (84.2) 27 (5.21) 40 (8.3) 23 (4.4) 21 (3.8)
Notes: Details of the items for student's knowledge evaluation are listed as follow:
1. Wood is renewable energy
2. Coal and Petroleum resources
3. Mercury is a hazardous toxic waste
4. Paper can be recycled
5. Glass can be recycled
6. Aluminum tin cannot be recycled
7. You understand the meaning of "Environmental awareness"
8. Siltation is the main source of river pollution in Malaysia
9. The main source of natural energy is the sun
10. Electricity is from electric energy
11. The environment is the most important elements of human life
12. The Department of Environment is the responsible department in monitoring environmental quality in Malaysia
13. Cigarette is the major source of dangerous diseases
14. Unsystematic waste management can cause long lasting pollution
15. Wildlife habitat is endangered due illegal logging.
16. Black is one of the colors of recycle bins
17. Forrest destruction cause global warming
18. Carbon dioxide is the major gas contributing to climate change
19. Sixty percent of our body is water
20 .In this year, the world population is more than 6 billion
21. Complaint line for the Department of Environment is 1-800-88-2727

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World Appl. Sci. J., 14 (Exploring Pathways to Sustainable Living in Malaysia: Solving the Current Environmental Issues): 83-87

Table 2: Level of Form 4 students' attitude toward the environment

Highly agreen(%) Diasgreen(%) Not suren(%) Agreen(%) Highly agree n(%)
Item ------------------------ ------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------------- --------------------------
(n=Population) Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural
1(n=1090) 7 (1.3) 9 (1.6) 5 (1.0) 8 (1.4) 39 (7.5) 64 (11.2) 238 (45.8) 233 (40.9) 231 (44.4) 256 (44.9)
2(n=1096) 4 (0.8) 3 (0.5) 12 (2.3) 12 (2.1) 62 (11.9) 71 (12.4) 226 (43.2) 248 (43.3) 219 (41.9) 239 (41.7)
3(n=1099) 10 (1.9) 8 (1.4) 5 (1.0) 10 (1.7) 9 (1.7) 21 (2.1) 64 (12.2) 81 (14.1) 437 (83.2) 463 (80.7)
4(n=1094) 16 (3.1) 17 (3.0) 29 (5.6) 11 (1.9) 31 (6.0) 37 (6.5) 76 (14.6) 138 (24.1) 369 (70.8) 370 (63.6)
5(n=1092) 33 (6.3) 45 (7.9) 86 (16.5) 85 (14.9) 190 (36.5) 248(43.4) 144 (27.7) 139 (24.3) 67 (12.9) 55 (9.6)
6(n=1099) 11 (2.1) 13 (2.3) 33 (6.3) 33 (5.7) 63 (12.0) 72 (12.5) 195 (37.3) 222 (38.7) 221 (42.3) 234 (40.8)
7(n=1099) 4 (0.8) 7 (1.2) 8(1.5) 7 (1.2) 17 (3.3) 36 (6.3) 211 (40.3) 236 (41.0) 283 (54.1) 290 (50.3)
8(n=1094) 5 (1.0) 3 (0.5) 9 (1.7) 14 (2.4) 58 (11.1) 82 (14.3) 170 (32.6) 171 (29.8) 279 (53.6) 303 (52.9)
9(n=1099) 14 (2.7) 13 (2.3) 61 (11.7) 58 (10.1) 114 (21.8) 135 (23.4) 199 (38.0) 225 (39.1) 115 (25.8) 145 (25.2)
1(n=1089)0 6 (1.2) 9 (1.6) 23 (4.4) 19 (3.3) 156 (29.9) 160 (28.2) 157 (30.1) 210 (37.0) 179 (34.4) 170 (29.9)
11(n= 1094) 84 (16.1) 81 (14.2) 158 (30.2) 162 (28.4) 190 (36.3) 251 (144.0) 61 (11.7) 58 (10.2) 30 (5.7) 19 (3.3)
12(n=1098) 36 (6.9) 31 (5.4) 70 (13.4) 73 (12.7) 236 (45.1) 261 (45.4) 136 (26.0) 164 (28.5) 45 (8.6) 46 (8.0)
Notes: Details of the items for students' attitude evaluation are listed as follow:
1. You feel that knowing about environmental problem is important for students and their family
2. Environment plays a significant role in students and their family life
3. In your opinion, smoking is dangerous to your health
4. In your opinion, cigarette smoke is dangerous to non smokers
5. Excessive population growth contributes towards environmental destruction
6. In your opinion, smoking in public place shall be imposed with higher penalty
7. The government should fine people who litter in public areas
8. Your agree that more national parks be gezetted for conserving wildlife habitat
9. In your opinion, the recycle campaign to reduce waste problem is effective
10. Increase number of visitors to Mt. Kinabalu will generate economic benefits
11. Increase number of visitors to Mt Kinabalu will cause adverse effect on the environment
12. Diving tourism will not disturb the coral reefs

Answers of respondents from rural and urban area them agreed that global population which had exceed 6
showed not much difference except for item of aluminum billion during 2008.
cannot be recycled and electricity is from electric energy. Distribution of responses for items concerning
Most of the respondents (>70%) had agreed on questions respondents’ attitudes towards the environment is
about recycle items such as paper, glass and aluminum, summarized in Table 2. Twelve questions were asked on
knowledge of forest destruction will endanger the species environmental issues that occurred locally or globally.
and they were aware of department in charge of The attitude of respondents in overall is good except for
environmental protection in Malaysia. Respondents only item that stated the increase number of visitors to Mt.
showed moderate level of knowledge on these items; Kinabalu will generate economic benefits and diving
Black is one of the colors of recycle bins (63.8%), wood is tourism will not disturb the coral reefs.
renewable energy (50.3%), mercury is a hazardous toxic Majority of Form 4 students (> 80%) agreed or
waste (59%), electricity is from electric energy (59.4%), highly agreed that environment plays a major role in
carbon dioxide is the major gas contributing to climate student’s and their family’s life, cigarettes are dangerous
change (53.5%). The results also showed that to health, cigarettes smoke is dangerous to non smoker,
respondents have not had enough knowledge on current setting up more national park to conserve wildlife and
environmental issue in which only 32% highly agreed that agreed that stringent punishment to people who litter in
siltation is the major contributor of river pollution in the public place. However, only 37.1% of respondent
Malaysia and only 10.9% of them were very sure about agreed that excessive population will effect the
the hotline of Environmental Department and 22.6% of environment and 22.6% agreed high penalty to deter non

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