{"title":"Employee green behavior in laboratories of higher education institutions: a qualitative study","authors":"Yossra Fareed El-Tony, Ling Suan Choo","doi":"10.1108/ijshe-03-2024-0168","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\n<p>This study aims to explore employee green behavior in higher education institution (HEI) laboratories in the Kingdom of Bahrain.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\n<p>A qualitative approach was used to explore the green behavior experiences of individuals working in HEI laboratories. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine participants selected via purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was performed on the collected data using ATLAS.ti 9 software.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Findings</h3>\n<p>The analysis of the collected data identified five themes related to the green behavior in HEI laboratories. These themes, ranked in descending order of frequency, are conserving, avoiding harm, transforming, influencing others and taking initiative. The conserving theme accounted for one-third of the subcodes, as did the avoiding harm theme. The final one-third of subcodes was distributed among the remaining three themes.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Research limitations/implications</h3>\n<p>This study conducted virtual interviews and coincidentally interviewed only female participants. The findings contribute to the existing literature on the themes of green behavior among laboratory staff in HEIs and provide valuable insights for university managers and sustainability coordinators in shaping policies to promote environmentally friendly practices and address negative practices.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Originality/value</h3>\n<p>Despite existing studies on environmental practices in various workplace settings, the exploration of green behavior in HEI laboratories in the Kingdom of Bahrain from the employee perspective remains limited. This study presents a significant opportunity for researchers to explore sustainability in HEI laboratories and for policymakers to develop corresponding strategies.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":47989,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ijshe-03-2024-0168","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore employee green behavior in higher education institution (HEI) laboratories in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach was used to explore the green behavior experiences of individuals working in HEI laboratories. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine participants selected via purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was performed on the collected data using ATLAS.ti 9 software.
Findings
The analysis of the collected data identified five themes related to the green behavior in HEI laboratories. These themes, ranked in descending order of frequency, are conserving, avoiding harm, transforming, influencing others and taking initiative. The conserving theme accounted for one-third of the subcodes, as did the avoiding harm theme. The final one-third of subcodes was distributed among the remaining three themes.
Research limitations/implications
This study conducted virtual interviews and coincidentally interviewed only female participants. The findings contribute to the existing literature on the themes of green behavior among laboratory staff in HEIs and provide valuable insights for university managers and sustainability coordinators in shaping policies to promote environmentally friendly practices and address negative practices.
Originality/value
Despite existing studies on environmental practices in various workplace settings, the exploration of green behavior in HEI laboratories in the Kingdom of Bahrain from the employee perspective remains limited. This study presents a significant opportunity for researchers to explore sustainability in HEI laboratories and for policymakers to develop corresponding strategies.
期刊介绍:
The aim of International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education is to provide up-to-date information on new developments and trends on sustainability in a higher education context, and to catalyse networking and information exchange on sustainable development as a whole, and on the SDGs in particular, on a global basis. Authors are invited to submit papers from the following areas: Environmental management systems, Sustainable development, Sustainable Development Goals, Curricular innovation, Campus greening, Operational aspects of universities, Energy, water, recycling, waste management, Planning and design of campuses, Environmental reports, Environmental policies and action plans, Staff and student initiatives. Other themes associated to the above or emerging topics will also be considered