Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Environmental Education, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Environment and NaturalResources, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Educational Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Today, urban agriculture, as a strategy for sustainable urban development, requires effective educational programs to enhance the environmental literacy of actors in this field. However, the absence of a coherent conceptual framework explaining the cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral dimensions influencing environmental literacy has challenged the design and management of agricultural education programs. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a three-layer conceptual framework for enhancing the environmental literacy of urban agriculture actors. A qualitative descriptive-analytical approach was employed, and data were collected through document analysis of 27 theories, models, and conceptual frameworks, as well as structured analysis of 56 Persian and English scientific articles published between 2000 and 2025. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and interpretive thematic analysis. The findings indicated that environmental literacy enhancement results from dynamic interactions among cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral layers. The cognitive layer includes systems thinking, evidence-based decision-making, knowledge localization, and experiential learning; the attitudinal layer involves environmental values, identity, personal norms, and place attachment; and the behavioral layer comprises self-efficacy, sustainable habit formation, social norms, and reducing behavioral barriers. Accordingly, the proposed conceptual framework can support the design, planning, implementation, and evaluation of agricultural and environmental education programs in urban agriculture and the development of evidence-based educational interventions.
Keywords
- Environmental literacy
- environmental education
- urban agriculture
- interpretive content analysis
- conceptual framework
Main Subjects
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