IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v313y2025ics0378377425001908.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How do cognitive biases influence farmers' participation in water conservation at Lake Urmia? Insights from social norms theory

Author

Listed:
  • Fanak, Davood Amin
  • Rezaei, Rohollah
  • Hashemi, Mukhtar

Abstract

Despite Lake Urmia being an international wetland with ecological, social, and economic value in the area, evidence indicates that its desiccation and degradation have seriously compromised this watershed during the past two decades. In this regard, human elements—particularly cognitive biases—significantly prevent farmers from participating in water conservation initiatives. Accordingly, this study investigated how cognitive biases influence the farmers' participatory water conservation behaviors (PWCBs) in the Lake Urmia basin. To achieve this, the study employed an established socio-psychological theory—Social Norms Theory (SNT)—which has rarely been applied to investigate pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). A questionnaire survey was distributed amongst 665 farmers within the Lake Urmia basin. The results of the survey indicated that the average age of the farmers was 44.4 years; the mean cultivated land area was 5.5 ha and the average number of land plots was 3.4. Also, the results showed while the extent of PWCBs varied among farmers, most have never engaged in PEBs or have rarely done so. Moreover, the results of the structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that pluralistic ignorance (PI), fundamental attribution error (FAE), false consensus effect (FCE), and bystander effect (BE) exerted statistically significant negative impacts on the PWCB variable. These variables might help explain approximately 61 % of PWCB's variances. Also, the results showed while the extent of PWCBs varied among farmers, most have never engaged in PEBs or have rarely done so. Most importantly, the findings confirmed the validity and usefulness of SNT for predicting PEBs, including PWCB. The study applied and tested SNT in a novel setting (i.e., water-saving behavior), broadening the current empirical and theoretical knowledge on PEBs. Furthermore, this study sheds important light on the design and implementation of suitable and pragmatic solutions that increase farmers' involvement in water conservation practices, thereby helping to support the rehabilitation of Lake Urmia.

Suggested Citation

  • Fanak, Davood Amin & Rezaei, Rohollah & Hashemi, Mukhtar, 2025. "How do cognitive biases influence farmers' participation in water conservation at Lake Urmia? Insights from social norms theory," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:313:y:2025:i:c:s0378377425001908
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109476
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425001908
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109476?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rasoul Maleki & Mehdi Nooripoor & Hossein Azadi & Philippe Lebailly, 2018. "Vulnerability Assessment of Rural Households to Urmia Lake Drying (the Case of Shabestar Region)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, June.
    2. Taheri, Mercedeh & Emadzadeh, Maryam & Gholizadeh, Mohsen & Tajrishi, Masoud & Ahmadi, Mehdi & Moradi, Melika, 2019. "Investigating the temporal and spatial variations of water consumption in Urmia Lake River Basin considering the climate and anthropogenic effects on the agriculture in the basin," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 782-791.
    3. Bijan Abadi & Girma Kelboro, 2021. "Farmers’ Contributions to Achieving Water Sustainability: A Meta-Analytic Path Analysis of Predicting Water Conservation Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Naser Valizadeh & Masoud Bijani & Enayat Abbasi, 2021. "Farmers’ participatory-based water conservation behaviors: evidence from Iran," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 4412-4432, March.
    5. Allen D. Blay & Eric S. Gooden & Mark J. Mellon & Douglas E. Stevens, 2018. "The Usefulness of Social Norm Theory in Empirical Business Ethics Research: A Review and Suggestions for Future Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 191-206, September.
    6. Robert A. Fiore & Robert N. Lussier, 2015. "Measuring and testing general fundamental attribution error in entrepreneurship effecting public policy," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 4(2), pages 171-186, August.
    7. Hao-Fan Chumg & Jia-Wen Shi & Kai-Jun Sun, 2019. "Why Employees Contribute to Pro-Environmental Behaviour: The Role of Pluralistic Ignorance in Chinese Society," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-22, December.
    8. Robert A. Fiore & Robert N. Lussier, 2015. "Measuring and testing general fundamental attribution error in entrepreneurship effecting public policy," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 4(2), pages 171-186, August.
    9. Huong Hoang-Thi & Shah Fahad & Ashfaq Ahmad Shah & Tung Nguyen-Huu-Minh & Tuan Nguyen-Anh & Song Nguyen-Van & Nguyen To-The & Huong Nguyen-Thi-Lan, 2023. "Evaluating the farmers’ adoption behavior of water conservation in mountainous region Vietnam: extrinsic and intrinsic determinants," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 115(2), pages 1313-1330, January.
    10. Atefeh Dadvar & Krushna Mahapatra & Jörgen Forss, 2021. "Water Use Behavior in a Multicultural Urban Area in Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-15, August.
    11. Andrade, Eduardo B. & Ariely, Dan, 2009. "The enduring impact of transient emotions on decision making," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 109(1), pages 1-8, May.
    12. William Black & Barry J. Babin, 2019. "Multivariate Data Analysis: Its Approach, Evolution, and Impact," Springer Books, in: Barry J. Babin & Marko Sarstedt (ed.), The Great Facilitator, pages 121-130, Springer.
    13. Nouri, Milad & Homaee, Mehdi & Pereira, Luis S. & Bybordi, Mohammad, 2023. "Water management dilemma in the agricultural sector of Iran: A review focusing on water governance," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    14. Rasoul Maleki & Mehdi Nooripoor & Zeinab Sharifi & Dacinia Crina Petrescu, 2023. "Application of community‐based system dynamics for the management of rural households' vulnerability to the drying of Urmia Lake," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(3), pages 573-585, May.
    15. Barideh, Rahman & Nasimi, Fereshteh, 2022. "Investigating the changes in agricultural land use and actual evapotranspiration of the Urmia Lake basin based on FAO’s WaPOR database," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    16. Kumar, Pranay & Caggiano, Holly & Cuite, Cara & Felder, Frank A. & Shwom, Rachael, 2023. "Analyzing spillovers from food, energy and water conservation behaviors using insights from systems perspective," Behavioural Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(3), pages 773-807, July.
    17. Shirmohammadi, Bagher & Malekian, Arash & Salajegheh, Ali & Taheri, Bahram & Azarnivand, Hossein & Malek, Ziga & Verburg, Peter H., 2020. "Scenario analysis for integrated water resources management under future land use change in the Urmia Lake region, Iran," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    18. Valizadeh, Naser & Bijani, Masoud & Hayati, Dariush, 2018. "A Comparative Analysis of Behavioral Theories towards Farmers’ Water Conservation," International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development (IJAMAD), Iranian Association of Agricultural Economics, vol. 9(01), November.
    19. Jiang, Luo-Luo & Gao, Jian & Chen, Zhi & Li, Wen-Jing & Kurths, Jürgen, 2021. "Reducing the bystander effect via decreasing group size to solve the collective-risk social dilemma," Applied Mathematics and Computation, Elsevier, vol. 410(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maleki, Tahereh & Koohestani, Hossein & Keshavarz, Marzieh, 2022. "Can climate-smart agriculture mitigate the Urmia Lake tragedy in its eastern basin?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    2. Jascha-Alexander Koch & Michael Siering, 2019. "The recipe of successful crowdfunding campaigns," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(4), pages 661-679, December.
    3. repec:cup:judgdm:v:8:y:2013:i:3:p:381-385 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Al-Shaer, Habiba & Uyar, Ali & Kuzey, Cemil & Karaman, Abdullah S., 2023. "Do shareholders punish or reward excessive CSR engagement? Moderating effect of cash flow and firm growth," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    5. Jinkwon Lee & Sujin Min, 2021. "The effects of repeated induction of emotions on cooperation and punishment," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 59(3), pages 925-943, July.
    6. Margaret M. Hinrichs & Thomas P. Seager & Sarah J. Tracy & Mark A. Hannah, 2017. "Innovation in the Knowledge Age: implications for collaborative science," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 144-155, June.
    7. Khalil Nimer & Muath Abdelqader & Cemil Kuzey & Ali Uyar, 2024. "Emission targeting and carbon emissions: The moderating effect of female directors," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3480-3504, May.
    8. Christopher Boyce & Mikolaj Czajkowski & Nick Hanley & Charles Noussair & Michael Townsend & Steve Tucker, 2015. "The effects of emotions on preferences and choices for public goods," Discussion Papers in Environment and Development Economics 2015-08, University of St. Andrews, School of Geography and Sustainable Development.
    9. Nascimento, Lígia & Correia, Manuela Faia & Califf, Christopher B., 2024. "Towards a bright side of technostress in higher education teachers: Identifying several antecedents and outcomes of techno-eustress," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    10. Ma, Shuai & Wang, Liang-Jie & Chu, Lei & Jiang, Jiang, 2023. "Determination of ecological restoration patterns based on water security and food security in arid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    11. Thürridl, Carina & Kamleitner, Bernadette & Ruzeviciute, Ruta & Süssenbach, Sophie & Dickert, Stephan, 2020. "From happy consumption to possessive bonds: When positive affect increases psychological ownership for brands," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 89-103.
    12. Qiu, Lili & Olaru, Doina & Purchase, Sharon, 2024. "Fostering strategic synergy: Empirical insights on aligning innovation activities with competitive strategies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    13. Benistant, Julien & Suchon, Rémi, 2021. "It does (not) get better: Reference income violation and altruism," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    14. Milner, Mattie & Rice, Stephen & Rice, Connor, 2019. "Support for environmentally-friendly airports influenced by political affiliation and social identity," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    15. Keerthi Police & Vikas Gautam & Sagar Chandakavate & Rishi Dwesar, 2024. "Modeling determinants of farmers’ purchase behavior: A case of chemical pesticides," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 9217-9245, April.
    16. Cobelli, Nicola & Cassia, Fabio & Donvito, Raffaele, 2023. "Pharmacists' attitudes and intention to adopt telemedicine: Integrating the market-orientation paradigm and the UTAUT," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    17. Laura J. Noval & Günter K. Stahl, 2017. "Accounting for Proscriptive and Prescriptive Morality in the Workplace: The Double-Edged Sword Effect of Mood on Managerial Ethical Decision Making," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(3), pages 589-602, May.
    18. Iversen, Endre Kildal & Dugstad, Anders, 2024. "Spatial dimensions in stated preference valuation: The role of place attachment," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    19. Babaei, Reza & Ting, David S-K & Carriveau, Rupp, 2024. "A comprehensive study of optimizing renewable energy-water-heat integration for isolated islands in Persian Gulf," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    20. Zhen Zhang, 2024. "Exploring the green edge: the role of market orientation and knowledge management in achieving competitive advantage through creativity," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    21. Baumann, Florian & Benndorf, Volker & Friese, Maria, 2019. "Loss-induced emotions and criminal behavior: An experimental analysis," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 134-145.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:313:y:2025:i:c:s0378377425001908. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.