The promotive effect of ocean literacy on marine conservation behavior: A qualitative study based on Chinese university students.
Ocean literacy plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable marine conservation behaviors, yet its underlying psychological mechanisms among university students remain underexplored, particularly within Asian contexts. This qualitative study aimed to investigate how ocean literacy influences pro-en...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0323510 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849228258945531904 |
|---|---|
| author | Linzhao Wang Bo Gao Xiangwei Chang Li Zhang |
| author_facet | Linzhao Wang Bo Gao Xiangwei Chang Li Zhang |
| author_sort | Linzhao Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ocean literacy plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable marine conservation behaviors, yet its underlying psychological mechanisms among university students remain underexplored, particularly within Asian contexts. This qualitative study aimed to investigate how ocean literacy influences pro-environmental behaviors among Chinese university students through environmental beliefs, values, and perceived responsibility. Semi-structured interviews with 16 university students from four coastal universities in China were conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis with NVivo software. Results indicated that ocean literacy encompasses five interconnected dimensions: scientific knowledge, environmental ethics, behavioral intentions for conservation, policy understanding, and critical thinking. Emotional connectedness and direct experiential engagement emerged as significant factors enhancing students' environmental awareness and behavioral transformation. The findings also highlighted cultural relevance, social norms, and interactive educational practices as essential elements for translating ocean literacy into tangible conservation actions. Despite participants demonstrating foundational ocean knowledge, limitations in their systemic understanding of complex marine issues were identified, suggesting the need for more comprehensive educational interventions. This study provides empirical insights for optimizing marine education strategies and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing public engagement and achieving sustainable ocean governance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d611cd331fb249a9918f473988704cf7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-d611cd331fb249a9918f473988704cf72025-08-23T05:31:53ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01208e032351010.1371/journal.pone.0323510The promotive effect of ocean literacy on marine conservation behavior: A qualitative study based on Chinese university students.Linzhao WangBo GaoXiangwei ChangLi ZhangOcean literacy plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable marine conservation behaviors, yet its underlying psychological mechanisms among university students remain underexplored, particularly within Asian contexts. This qualitative study aimed to investigate how ocean literacy influences pro-environmental behaviors among Chinese university students through environmental beliefs, values, and perceived responsibility. Semi-structured interviews with 16 university students from four coastal universities in China were conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis with NVivo software. Results indicated that ocean literacy encompasses five interconnected dimensions: scientific knowledge, environmental ethics, behavioral intentions for conservation, policy understanding, and critical thinking. Emotional connectedness and direct experiential engagement emerged as significant factors enhancing students' environmental awareness and behavioral transformation. The findings also highlighted cultural relevance, social norms, and interactive educational practices as essential elements for translating ocean literacy into tangible conservation actions. Despite participants demonstrating foundational ocean knowledge, limitations in their systemic understanding of complex marine issues were identified, suggesting the need for more comprehensive educational interventions. This study provides empirical insights for optimizing marine education strategies and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing public engagement and achieving sustainable ocean governance.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0323510 |
| spellingShingle | Linzhao Wang Bo Gao Xiangwei Chang Li Zhang The promotive effect of ocean literacy on marine conservation behavior: A qualitative study based on Chinese university students. PLoS ONE |
| title | The promotive effect of ocean literacy on marine conservation behavior: A qualitative study based on Chinese university students. |
| title_full | The promotive effect of ocean literacy on marine conservation behavior: A qualitative study based on Chinese university students. |
| title_fullStr | The promotive effect of ocean literacy on marine conservation behavior: A qualitative study based on Chinese university students. |
| title_full_unstemmed | The promotive effect of ocean literacy on marine conservation behavior: A qualitative study based on Chinese university students. |
| title_short | The promotive effect of ocean literacy on marine conservation behavior: A qualitative study based on Chinese university students. |
| title_sort | promotive effect of ocean literacy on marine conservation behavior a qualitative study based on chinese university students |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0323510 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT linzhaowang thepromotiveeffectofoceanliteracyonmarineconservationbehavioraqualitativestudybasedonchineseuniversitystudents AT bogao thepromotiveeffectofoceanliteracyonmarineconservationbehavioraqualitativestudybasedonchineseuniversitystudents AT xiangweichang thepromotiveeffectofoceanliteracyonmarineconservationbehavioraqualitativestudybasedonchineseuniversitystudents AT lizhang thepromotiveeffectofoceanliteracyonmarineconservationbehavioraqualitativestudybasedonchineseuniversitystudents AT linzhaowang promotiveeffectofoceanliteracyonmarineconservationbehavioraqualitativestudybasedonchineseuniversitystudents AT bogao promotiveeffectofoceanliteracyonmarineconservationbehavioraqualitativestudybasedonchineseuniversitystudents AT xiangweichang promotiveeffectofoceanliteracyonmarineconservationbehavioraqualitativestudybasedonchineseuniversitystudents AT lizhang promotiveeffectofoceanliteracyonmarineconservationbehavioraqualitativestudybasedonchineseuniversitystudents |