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The copyright © of this thesis belongs to its rightful author and/or other copyright owner. Copies can be accessed and downloaded for non-commercial or learning purposes without any charge and permission. The thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted as a whole without the permission from its rightful owner. No alteration or changes in format is allowed without permission from its rightful owner. PERCEIVED MEDIA COVERAGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA: THE MODERATING EFFECTS OF PERCEIVED GOVERNMENT ROLE AND GREEN VALUES KHALED M.I. ABU FAYYAD DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA 2017 Permission to Use In presenting this thesis in fulfillment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree from Universiti Utara Malaysia, I agree that the Universiti Library may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for the copying of this thesis in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purpose may be granted by my supervisor(s) or, in their absence, by the Dean of Awang Had Salleh Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to Universiti Utara Malaysia for any scholarly use which may be made of any material from my thesis. Requests for permission to copy or to make other use of materials in this thesis, in whole or in part, should be addressed to: Dean of Awang Had Salleh Graduate School of Arts and Sciences UUM College of Arts and Sciences Universiti Utara Malaysia 06010 UUM Sintok i Abstrak Penemuan yang tidak konsisten mengenai hubungan antara liputan media (LM) dan kesedaran alam sekitar (KAS) menyediakan jurang kajian semasa yang mengundang keperluan kajian lanjut berhubung kemungkinan pembolehubah luar jangka (penyederhana). Berdasarkan rangka kerja teoritikal yang muncul, peranan kerajaan (PK) dan tanggapan nilai hijau (NH) disarankan sebagai penyerdehana berpotensi. Oleh itu, satu rangka kerja penyelidikan dicadangkan bagi meneliti kesan penyederhanaan pembolehubah peranan kerajaan (PK) dan tanggapan nilai hijau (NH) terhadap hubungan LM dan KAS. Rangka kerja penyelidikan ini disokong oleh Teori Penentuan Agenda dan Teori Pembingkaian, serta diperkukuh dengan Teori Kesan Terhad dan Teori Peninstitusian. Persampelan rawak berkadaran diterapkan bersama kaedah tinjauan untuk mendapatkan data. Hasil soalselidik 730 responden telah jadikan data untuk analisis dengan mengaplikasikan Exploratory Factor Analysis dan Confirmatory Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling. Didapati bahawa semua hubungan langsung antara LM dan KAS, NH dan KAS, dan NH dan KAS menunjukkan keputusan signifikan. Selanjutnya, sungguhpun PK didapati secara signifikan menyerderhanakan hubungan LM dan KAS, sebaliknya tidak dapat dibuktikan kesignifikanan kesan penyederhanaan oleh NH. Hasil kajian ini telah menyumbang pembolehubah baharu dalam rangka teoritikal hubungan LM dan KAS. Dari sudut metodologi, instrumen dan analisis kajian ini menawarkan pendekatan alternatif dalam memahami fenomena kewartawanan alam sekitar. Penemuan ini juga menyediakan input untuk polisi dan pelaksanaan mengenai kesedaran alam sekitar. Kata kunci: Kewartawanan alam sekitar, kesedaran, liputan media, peranan kerajaan, nilai-nilai hijau ii Abstract The inconsistent findings on the relationship between media coverage (MC) and environmental awareness (EA) provide the current study research gap which invites further investigation into the possible contingent variables (moderator). Based on the emerging theoretical framework, government role (GR) and perceived green values (GV) were postulate as potential moderators. Thus, a research framework was proposed to examine the relationship between MC and EA, as well as the moderating effects of GR and GV on the relationship. The research framework was underpinned by Agenda Setting Theory and Framing Theory, and further supplemented by Limited Effects Theory, and Institutional Theory. Proportionate random sampling was adopted along with survey method to obtain data. The questionnaires of 730 respondents were used for data analysis that employed Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling analysis techniques. It was found that all direct associations between MC and EA, GV and EA, and GR and EA demonstrated significant results. Further, while GR was found significantly moderated the relationship between MC and EA, there was no evidence for significant moderating effect of GV. It was found that all direct associations between MC and EA, GV and EA, and GR and EA demonstrated significant results. Further, while GR was found significantly moderated the relationship between MC and EA, there was no evidence for significant moderating effect of GV. Keywords: Environmental journalism, awareness, media coverage, government role, green values iii Table of Contents Permission to Use .......................................................................................................... i Abstrak ......................................................................................................................... ii Abstract ....................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................ iv Acknowledgement..................................................................................................... viii List of Tables............................................................................................................... ix List of Figures ............................................................................................................ xii List of Appendices .................................................................................................... xiii List of Abbreviations................................................................................................. xiv CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 1 1.1 An Overview .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2Background of the Study ......................................................................................... 1 1.3 Research Problem................................................................................................... 9 1.4 Research Questions .............................................................................................. 16 1.5 Research Objectives ............................................................................................. 17 1.6 Scope of the Study ............................................................................................... 17 1.7 Significance of the Study ..................................................................................... 18 1.8 Definition of Key Terms ...................................................................................... 22 1.8.1 Environmental Awareness ............................................................................ 23 1.8.2 Perceived Media Coverage ........................................................................... 23 1.8.3 Green Values ................................................................................................ 23 1.8.4 Perceived Government Role ......................................................................... 24 1.9 Summary .............................................................................................................. 24 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................ 25 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 25 2.2 Conceptualization of Main Variables Understudied ............................................ 25 2.2.1 Conceptualization of Environmental Awareness ......................................... 26 2.2.1.1 Formulation of Environmental Awareness Concept .......................... 27 A) Environment as an Object of Awareness .................................................. 27 B) Terminology of ‗Awareness‘ as an Expression of Environmental Awareness ............................................................................................. 31 2.2.2 Conceptualization of Media Coverage ......................................................... 38 iv 2.2.2.1 Perceived Media Coverage: Defining among the Clouds of Definitions ............................................................................................. 39 2.2.2.2 Media Coverage from the Audience‘s Perspective ........................... 40 2.2.3 Conceptualization of Green Values .............................................................. 41 2.2.4 Conceptualization of Government Role ....................................................... 45 2.3 Hypotheses Development..................................................................................... 47 2.3.1 Media Coverage and Environmental Awareness .......................................... 48 2.3.1.1 The Prominent Qualitative Role of Media ......................................... 48 2.3.1.2 Relationship between Media Coverage and Environmental Awareness……………………………………………………………..51