درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose of this study was to investigate the sustainability of domestic gas consumption and identify the social factors that affect it. Three questions were asked in this study. 1) How stable is the gas consumption practice at home? 2) What are the elements that affect gas consumption as a sustainable practice?3) What solutions can be offered to increase gas consumption sustainability? After reviewing the research literature and the concepts of sustainable development and sustainable consumption, two categories of factors were identified as predictors of sustainable gas consumption changes. The research strategy is deductive and the explanation was used to investigate the research problem. The approach of this study was quantitative, and the survey method was used for measurement. The data collection tool is questionnaire. Structural validity, face validity and Cronbach's alpha were used to assess the validity and reliability. The statistical population consisted of household subscribers in Mazandaran province. Using systematic random cluster sampling method, 430 individuals were selected as the statistical sample. The findings of the study showed that the level of sustainability of gas consumption by household subscribers was at an average level. After exploratory factor analysis, three dimensions were considered for sustainable gas consumption. Findings showed that and after-sales support and pro-norms had the greatest impact on the dimension of consumer safety. Environmental values and knowledge of gas consumption have the most impact on the dimension of  consumer  awareness, pro-norms, Environmental values and pre-norms had greatest effects on responsible consumption.

Purpose - The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of improving the dimensions of social capital in the spatial evolution of rural settlements in Esfandagheh. Design/methodology/approach - This study is a quantitative survey conducted using questionnaires distributed among 400 households in 30 sample villages. Descriptive-analytical measures such as mean, variance, standard deviation, Kendall Tau-b correlation coefficient, and multiple regression were used to analyze social capital's status in the spatial evolution of rural settlements in the study area. Findings - The findings revealed that the six dimensions of social capital, including social awareness, social organizations and groups, social networks and relations, social participation, social cohesion, and social trust have a positive and significant relationship with the dimensions of the spatial evolution of rural settlements. Moreover, there is a positive and significant relationship between social capital and spatial development dimensions in the studied villages' four environmental-ecological, social, economic, and physical-infrastructural dimensions. Also, social awareness, social participation, social cohesion, social trust, social networks and relations, and social organizations and groups with a variance of 0.433% were explained as predictors of spatial changes in the Esfandagheh rural district. Research limitations/implications - The variable of social capital plays an essential role in the spatial transformation of rural settlements because improving the dimensions of spatial transformation regardless of the dimensions of social capital faces a crucial challenge. In other words, social capital is influential in various areas of life, from the local and micro-level to the national and macro-level; it can empower the villagers in dealing with the socio-economic problems of their village. Practical implications - Paying attention to the dimensions of social capital in terms of approaches and planning and policy-making system of rural development and subsequently emphasizing the status of social capital as one of the most important intangible assets to improve the spatial evolution of rural settlements. Originality/Value - This study investigated the effects of all dimensions of social capital on all four dimensions of geographical space. In such a way, the attention of policymakers and development planners to the outcome of this research provides a more effective planning ground for developing the rural space based on people's views and the conditions of each region.