Nghiên cứu sinh Đậu Thu Hương bảo vệ luận án tiến sĩ
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DISSERTATION
Dissertation title: Sustainability mindset and subsequent eco-friendly behavioral intention: An empirical study in electric vehicles
Specialization: Business Administration (E-PhD) Specialization code: 9340101
PhD candidate: Dau Thu Huong
Supervisor(s): Assoc.Prof.Dr. Vu Hoang Ngan
Institution: National Economics University
Original contributions on academic and theoretical aspects
The dissertation makes several important theoretical contributions. First, it extends the concept of sustainability mindset- traditionally examined in education, leadership, and organisational contexts- into consumer behaviour, with a focus on electric vehicle (EV) adoption. By operationalising the Sustainability Mindset as a structured Knowing–Being–Doing internalisation mechanism, the study proposes a coherent process in which environmental knowledge shapes identity and evaluative orientation, ultimately driving EV purchase intention. Second, the dissertation empirically validates a sequential mechanism linking environmental knowledge, environmental self-identity, pro-environmental attitude, and EV purchase intention. This clarifies how sustainability-related cognition is internalised into identity and evaluative orientation before manifesting as behavioural intention, thereby offering a more nuanced account of the Knowing–Being–Doing progression. Third, the study introduces technology discomfort as a contextually relevant psychological constraint, grounded in technology adoption and Attitude–Behavior–Context logic. The findings demonstrate that technology discomfort weakens the influence of identity and evaluative orientation on intention, highlighting that EV adoption is shaped not only by external barriers (e.g., price, infrastructure) but also by consumers’ psychological readiness to engage with advanced technologies. Finally, situated within an emerging economy undergoing technological transition, the study identifies technology discomfort as a boundary condition. This provides deeper insight into how sustainability-driven intention formation operates under conditions of heterogeneous readiness and transitional market dynamics.
Recommendations derived from the findings of the dissertation
The study offers several practical implications. First, for policymakers, it suggests integrating environmental education with infrastructure development, targeted incentives, and consistent long-term policy signals. Trust-building initiatives such as test drives, transparent information, and demonstration projects an reduce technology discomfort. Second, for firms, EVs should be positioned as responsible, future-oriented lifestyle choices. Strengthening peer influence through owner communities and simplifying the customer journey via hands-on experiences and strong after-sales support are essential. Finally, for educational institutions and civil society, embedding a sustainability mindset through experiential and reflective learning can help transform knowledge into identity and sustain pro-environmental attitudes over time.
