Social predictors and implementation intention of drivers to use public bus transport
Management of Environmental Quality
ISSN: 1477-7835
Article publication date: 11 June 2018
Issue publication date: 22 February 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of social sustainable consumption in the context of improved ridership in public bus transport (PBT). It investigated the social predictors and implementation intention of drivers to use PBT.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data were collected through online survey. The respondents of the online survey were 313 drivers in Penang, Malaysia. A conceptual model was designed to test implementation intention of the drivers in using the PBT. Data analysis was performed using the variance-based structural equation modeling technique of partial least squares.
Findings
The findings indicate that the drivers’ intention to use PBT is significantly influenced by their referent group, gender role, and commitment to environment. In addition, their implementation intention is significantly predicted by the intention to use PBT.
Research limitations/implications
This study was performed in Penang using convenience sampling method. The results need to be replicated using a different sample in other developing countries to test its stability.
Practical implications
Policy makers and transport managers need to be guided by the importance of the drivers’ referent group, gender role, commitment to environment, and intention in order to improve ridership of the PBT.
Originality/value
The research on referent group, gender role, commitment to environment, intention, and the implementation intention of the drivers using the theory of interpersonal behavior in PBT is unprecedented.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This article forms part of a special section “Approach to management for environmental quality through sustainable consumption and production indicators”.
Citation
Kang, A.S., Jayaraman, K., Soh, K.L. and Wong, W.P. (2019), "Social predictors and implementation intention of drivers to use public bus transport", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 30 No. 2, pp. 307-328. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-07-2017-0070
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited