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Can Short-Term Citizen Science Training Increase Knowledge, Improve Attitudes, and Change Behavior to Protect Land Crabs?

Author

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  • Chia-Hsuan Hsu

    (School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan)

  • Yuan-Mou Chang

    (Department of Ecology and Environmental Resources, National University of Tainan, Tainan 70167, Taiwan)

  • Chi-Chang Liu

    (School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan)

Abstract

Citizen science projects are considered popular and efficient approaches to scientific research and conservation of sustainability. In addition, much research suggests that citizen science can improve participants’ environmental and scientific literacy when they participate in surveys over a period of time. However, considerable research indicates that people in short-term training programs do not change their environmental literacy significantly. Nevertheless, studies have stated that these results might result from inappropriate evaluation methods. In this study, we used personal meaning mapping (PMM) to evaluate participants’ knowledge, attitude, and behavior intention in relation to land crab protection. This method merges quantitative and qualitative dimensions, used in scientific knowledge research, which we extend to evaluate attitude and behavior intention. As a result, even with short-term training, we observe that participants’ knowledge, attitude, and behavior intention significantly improves. Although some individuals exhibit no change in certain respects, we use PMM to understand the causes in detail. Taiwan is an island, famous for its fertile landscapes and biodiversity, and we anticipate finding efficient means to improve public environmental literacy. According to our research, public engagement in citizen science projects is an excellent approach to environmental education and conservation for sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Chia-Hsuan Hsu & Yuan-Mou Chang & Chi-Chang Liu, 2019. "Can Short-Term Citizen Science Training Increase Knowledge, Improve Attitudes, and Change Behavior to Protect Land Crabs?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:14:p:3918-:d:249496
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chia-Hsuan Hsu & Te-En Lin & Wei-Ta Fang & Chi-Chang Liu, 2018. "Taiwan Roadkill Observation Network: An Example of a Community of Practice Contributing to Taiwanese Environmental Literacy for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-14, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniela De Filippo & María Luisa Lascurain & Andres Pandiella-Dominique & Elias Sanz-Casado, 2020. "Scientometric Analysis of Research in Energy Efficiency and Citizen Science through Projects and Publications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-25, June.
    2. repec:thr:techub:10022:y:2021:i:1:p:113-116 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Shan-Hui Chao & Jin-Zhang Jiang & Kuan-Chu Wei & Eric Ng & Chia-Hsuan Hsu & Yi-Te Chiang & Wei-Ta Fang, 2021. "Understanding Pro-Environmental Behavior of Citizen Science: An Exploratory Study of the Bird Survey in Taoyuan’s Farm Ponds Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, May.
    4. Chia-Hsuan Hsu, 2021. "Environmental Education: Revealing Some Current Problems from Personal Opinion," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 22(1), pages 113-116, August.

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    1. Chia-Hsuan Hsu, 2021. "Environmental Education: Revealing Some Current Problems from Personal Opinion," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 22(1), pages 113-116, August.
    2. repec:thr:techub:10022:y:2021:i:1:p:113-116 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Shan-Hui Chao & Jin-Zhang Jiang & Kuan-Chu Wei & Eric Ng & Chia-Hsuan Hsu & Yi-Te Chiang & Wei-Ta Fang, 2021. "Understanding Pro-Environmental Behavior of Citizen Science: An Exploratory Study of the Bird Survey in Taoyuan’s Farm Ponds Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, May.
    4. Daniela De Filippo & María Luisa Lascurain & Andres Pandiella-Dominique & Elias Sanz-Casado, 2020. "Scientometric Analysis of Research in Energy Efficiency and Citizen Science through Projects and Publications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-25, June.

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