DLSU studes care about the environment too - survey

by Ronald Jabal

I recently conducted a small purposive survey among DLSU Org Com Students about their attitudes and beliefs on carpooling. (The same survey instrument used in DLSU was also administered among employees of ABS-CBN International).

The survey results will inform a carpool campaign program that will be developed as part of a submission to a graduate course on Public Campaigns in UP Diliman.

While most people associate carpooling as a cost-reduction scheme, it is nevertheless a small, but, when a number of people participate in it, can be a potent tool to reduce carbon emission – hence carpooling is an environment protection tool as well.

At first, my initial suspicions tell me that DLSU students may not be as “environmental” as they are perhaps more “sheltered” than “usual” students. They probably care less about the environment and are more concerned about image, identity, and status among others.

Heck, they probably do not even care about possible cost-savings when they participate in a carpooling program as they more care about self-image as a “car owner”.

But, boy, I was wrong. Absolutely wrong.

Survey results show DLSU students (n=60) care about the cost-savings they will incur when they participate in a carpooling program; and they believe that carpooling can help reduce traffic congestion and help protect the environment. Close to 76% says carpooling can help protect the environment.

Status symbol and/or self-image as a “school bus” driver if one participates in a carpooling program are almost immaterial to the students. More than 75% says status symbol is not important even as they believe carpooling is more fun especially when done with friends.

DLSU students will consider carpooling for a number of reasons: (1) if priority parking space is offered to carpoolers; (2) if there are additional incentives to car owners participating in carpooling program; and (3) if schedules among friends/carpoolers will be managed (same route and time)

There are other valuable insights from the survey results. The abovementioned results can, however, already be used to develop a campaign for carpooling in DLSU.

One can already developed campaign materials revolving around cost-savings or that carpooling is pro-environment. To further entice carpoolers can already develop an advocacy plan to convince DLSU management to provide priority space for carpoolers etc.

We would not have known good insights to inform our campaigns if we didn’t do the survey right?

Hence, once again, research remains really, really, really, important in campaign planning and implementation.