Chen, Z; Zhou, X; Zhang, Z; Yan, H; Niu, X and Li, Y (2025) Using the decomposed theory of planned behavior and a structural equation model with partial least squares to investigate construction and demolition waste reduction behavior. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 151(8): 04025105, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Due to rapid urbanization and urban renewal, the amount of construction and demolition waste has increased rapidly. The behavior of construction workers plays an important role in the management of construction and demolition waste. However, the determinants of practitioners' construction and demolition waste management behaviors, such as those related to public opinion and departmental supervision, require further investigation. Those factors that are likely to have an indirect effect on construction and demolition waste behavior should be identified through a detailed model. Therefore, this study used the decomposed theory of planned behavior to construct a structural equation model based on partial least squares. The aim of this study was to provide a deeper understanding of the relationships between attitude/behavior and the three antecedents of intention, including attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control. Fourteen hypotheses were therefore generated. A total of 750 construction professionals were invited to complete the questionnaire, and 321 valid participants were identified. The model results indicated that eight hypotheses were supported, one hypothesis was partially supported, and five hypotheses were not supported. Specifically, the significant direct influences of supervision departments and public opinion on subjective norms and their indirect influences on behavior intentions for construction and demolition waste through subjective norms were identified. In addition, perceived usefulness was identified as a decomposed construct for attitude that directly affects behavior intention. Technology facilitating conditions and self-efficacy were developed as decomposed constructs for perceived behavior control, which directly affects behavior. This study employed the decomposed theory of planned behavior to add five more critical constructs, namely, perceived usefulness, supervision department, public opinion, technology facilitating conditions, and self-efficacy, to provide an in-depth understanding of construction and demolition waste behavior.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction and demolition waste; decomposed theory of planned behavior; public opinion; supervision departments |
| Index terms: | planned behaviour, supervision, construction worker, subjective norm, self-efficacy, determinant, investigation, structural equation model, urban renewal, construction professional, urbanization, waste reduction, partial least square, questionnaire, waste management, indirect effect, practitioner, behaviour control, construction and demolition, perceived usefulness |
| Subjects: | sustainability assessment, behavioral psychology, social justice, waste management, human factors and perception, practitioner, analytical methods, urban planning, professional development, post-disaster and reconstruction, statistical analysis, control systems, risk assessment, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Ethics, Sustainability, Risk Management, Project Management, Urban Studies, Governance, Roles and Professions, Information Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here