The Influence of Contextual Aspects on New Zealand Muslim Males' Environmentally Ethical Behaviour

Abstract

This study's aim was to investigate the strength of contextual aspects' influences on environmentally ethical behaviour (EEB). A survey method with a selfadministered questionnaire was used and a cross-section of the Muslim male population of New Zealand was taken. The qualitative interviews and email questionnaires were also utilised to further explain the survey results. The linear regression analyses show correlations between contextual aspects (i.e., social, religious, economic, political, and demographic) and EEB (pre-cycling, re-use and recycling). Results indicate that the contextual aspects are influential on EEB in many ways and degrees. A model describing the relationship was developed. The economic aspect statistically significantly related to EEB the strongest. The qualitative interview and email questionnaire data support the findings of the survey. The relationship was positive, meaning that the more the consumers were influenced by the economic aspect to behave in an environmentally ethical way, the more they were likely to perform EEB. Compared to the economic aspect, white collar workers, number of household occupant, work involvement with the environment, type of house, and age had a weaker statistically significant relationship with EEB. The relationships were positive, meaning that the better the consumers' occupation (i.e., white collar workers), the more household member they had (i.e., 4 and above), the higher their level of work involvement with the environment, and the better their dwelling (i.e., bungalow or semi-detached houses), the more they were likely to perform EEB. However, the relationship between age and EEB was negative, meaning that the younger the consumers the more they were likely to perform EEB. However, the results of this study, from both the survey and the interview methods, indicate that demographic characteristics were not as important as the contextual aspects, particularly the economic aspect, in understanding consumers' EEB. This study shows that the economic aspect was very important in understanding consumers' EEB compared to the other contextual aspects even the political aspect was statistically significantly related to EEB via the economic aspect. Thus, the economic aspect should be used optimally by public and private sector managers to promote EEB.