Abstract:
The associated economic, social and environmental impacts of food waste have become
a focal point of interest in research. With the introduction of the Free Senior High School
Policy, it is anticipated that students’ enrolment at school will keep increasing and in
order to adequately feed and nourish the student’s population, it is important to evaluate
the factors associated with the food wastage behaviour of these students. To achieve this,
it is imperative to investigate the behavioural causes of food waste among students in
second cycle schools. The descriptive research design involved the survey of 578
students and 3 matrons sampled from some selected Senior High Schools in the Kumasi
Metropolis. Questionnaire and an interview were conducted with respondents sampled
through a multistage sampling method. Reliability test, convergence validity, and
discriminant validity were assessed by running confirmatory factor analysis in Amos
(v.23). The coefficients of the hypothesized paths were ascertained by running structural
equation modelling (SEM). The study concludes that, perceived food quality, perceived
behavioural control, and subjective norm, all had a direct positive effect on students’
attitude towards food waste. Perceived food quality was also found to have had a direct
positive effect on perceived behavioural control and subjective norm. Finally, perceived
behavioural control and subjective norm were found to partially mediate the relationship
between perceived food quality and students’ attitude towards food waste.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of Catering and Hospitality, School of Technology
submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba, in
fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Master of Philosophy Degree in
Catering and Hospitality.
FEBRUARY, 2021