Annotated Bibliography: Student Awareness of Plastic Pollution

This assignment presents an annotated bibliography comprising two entries focusing on plastic pollution awareness among students. The first entry analyzes a research article that surveyed secondary school students in Sharjah, UAE, evaluating their knowledge and attitudes towards plastic pollution. The study highlights the influence of factors like gender, grade level, and maternal education on awareness levels. The second entry examines a study on university students in Tamil Nadu, India, investigating their knowledge and practices concerning plastics. This research emphasizes the need to bridge the gap between awareness and practical waste management, particularly regarding single-use plastics. Both entries follow the required format, providing descriptions, evaluations of strengths and weaknesses, and assessments of the usefulness of each study, offering valuable insights into environmental education and public health implications related to plastic waste management among students.

Communication

Communication
1st Annotated Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY Hammami, M., Mohammed, Q., A, H., M, A.-K., Alqahtani, F., Alzaabi, S., & Dash, N.
(2017). Survey on awareness and attitudes of secondary school students regarding plastic
pollution: Implications for environmental education and public health in Sharjah city, UAE.
Environ Sci Pollut Res, 2017(24), 20626-20633.
Description
This research in the article of the survey on awareness and attitudes of secondary school
students regarding plastic pollution: Implications for environmental education and public health
in Sharjah city evaluates the awareness and attitudes of secondary school students with regards to
the environment and more specifically on plastic pollution. The researchers, unlike in previous
researches, focus on the usage of plastics. They employ a quantitative research design with the
data collected from the participants in a survey using questionnaires. A sample size of 400
participants, between grades 10 and 12, was drawn from six secondary schools in Sharjah City,
UAE. The study was conducted from February to April 2016. The study suggests that females,
children in grades 11 and 12, and children with more educated mothers are better informed about
environment-conscious behaviour.
Evaluation
The research article provides very detailed information on different aspects of the
research. This is in addition to the application of appropriate analysis techniques to draw
conclusions on the subject matter. Data collected from the survey is used for the analysis
processes; chi-square, t-test and ANOVA test, which evaluate the data to draw conclusions based
on the objectives. The strength of this research is the appropriateness of the use of analysis
method. The weakness of this study is its exclusion of non-Arabic schools in the target
population. Considering the non-Arabic schools would increase the applicability of the findings
thereby improving the study.
Usefulness
This research is a credible source on information on the nature of plastic pollution
awareness among students in the UAE. It provides valuable insights on the effectiveness of any
education based measures, that are currently in place in the UAE, aimed at creating plastic
awareness among students in secondary schools in the country. This study can be extended to
include a sample drawn from all over the UAE to further the research on plastic pollution
awareness and attitudes among students in the country.
2

Communication
2nd Annotated Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY Srinivasan, N., Swarnapriya, V., Felix, A., & Pravin, T. (2019). Assessment of Knowledge
and Practice on Plastics among the Professional Course Students of Annamalai University, Tamil
Nadu. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 6(2), 510-514.
Description
The focus of the research in the article on the Assessment of Knowledge and Practice on
Plastics among the Professional Course Students of Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu is in
investigating the knowledge and practice among professional university students with respect to
plastics. The research builds on the work previously done in this research area by reducing the
target population to professional university students. The research applies a quantitative research
approach with the researchers conducting a survey with questionnaires filled by 563 university
students that formed the sample size. The sample was drawn from all the first year professional
courses at the university between September and November 2018. The study suggests that there
exists a need to bridge the gap between the knowledge and practice with regards to the
messaging of proper plastic disposal and reduction of the use of single use plastic products.
Evaluation
The research in this article extends the study in the area of plastic pollution to a great
extent. This is done by firstly focusing on professional university students and secondly by
considering the knowledge and practice on plastics. The weakness in this research is the
application of the ANOVA test in instances where the chi-square and t-test would be better
alternatives. The data collected from the 563 participants in the study form the basis for the
analysis in this research with the application of the ANOVA test for the analysis. The research
can be improved greatly by applying the use of chi-square and t-test where applicable instead of
the ANOVA test. The strength of this study is the is the measurement and scoring tools used,
they are well detailed and their application enhances the analysis.
Usefulness
The research design and scoring tools applied in this study can be relied upon in the
development of study approaches for future studies in a similar research area. The research
findings inform on the relationship between the awareness of plastic pollution and use of plastic
among the professional university students in Tamil Nadu. This relationship is a key indicator for
the success rate of awareness in Tamil Nadu. This source is credible with further research being
studies that consider the entire student population in Annamalai University and extending the
study to cover all the institutions of higher learning in Tamil Nadu, India.
3