Analyzing Effect of Environmental Beliefs on Participatory Water Conservation Behaviors of Farmers (Case Study: Zarivar Watershed of Marivan Township)

The purpose of this descriptive research was to analyze effect of environmental beliefs on participatory behaviors of farmers toward water conservation. Statistical population of the study was farmer households in central region of the Zarivar watershed located at Marivan township (N=2097). Sample size determined via Cochran formula (n=237). The sampling method was proportional stratified random sampling. Face and content validity of the questionnaire revised and verified by a panel of experts. Convergent validity of questionnaire was obtained at the optimum level by calculating the average variance extracted (AVE) and composite reliability (CR). To determine the reliability of the questionnaire, a pilot test was conducted, and then Cronbach’s Alpha was calculated. For data analysis, AMOS and SPSS software were used. Descriptive results showed that the highest and lowest mean for components of general beliefs were assigned to the human interdependence (3.08 out of 5) and the human exception (1.78 out of 5) respectively. Also, means of farmers’ specific beliefs were calculated upper than average level (3.75 out of 5) and for farmers’ participatory behavior toward water, conservation was lower than the average level (2.51 out of 6). Research findings showed that general and specific beliefs of farmers had a positive and significant effect on their participatory behavior toward water conservation. So that these variables could explain about 0.29% variance of participatory water conservation behvaior.