La conciencia ambiental en estudiantes universitarios de una institución de educación superior del sur del Ecuador

Abstract

Abstract: Environmental Awareness among University Students at a Higher Education Institution in Southern Ecuador was conducted to examine the correlation between these two dimensions of environmental awareness within the university context. Methodologically, it adopted a quantitative, positivist, and deductive approach, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design and a descriptive-correlational scope. The participants were 27 undergraduate students from the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja. Data were collected through a survey using a validated Likert-type environmental awareness questionnaire consisting of 22 items distributed across the cognitive, affective, attitudinal, and behavioral dimensions. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, normality testing, and correlation analysis. The findings revealed heterogeneous environmental knowledge, with stronger mastery of widely disseminated topics and deficits in more specific areas. Environmental attitudes were generally favorable, although some inconsistency emerged regarding individual responsibility. Overall, the results indicate that the relationship between environmental knowledge and environmental attitudes is also mediated by values and formative experiences.