The Consistency among the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices As components of Consumption Rationalization Behavior: A Social Study of Rural Women in Menoufia Governorate

This study aimed basically at understanding the behavior of rural women regarding the consumption rationalization, This main objective was achieved theoretically and empirically through the following sub-objectives: (1) Identifying components of rural women behavior related to consumption  rationalization: a) Knowledge of the impact of rationalization practices, b) Attitudes toward rationalization practices, c) Practices of consumption rationalization. (2) Determining the consistency among the components of consumption rationalization behavior (knowledge, attitudes, practices). (3) Identifying the dimensions of relationships among the three components of behavior (knowledge, attitudes, practices) and (4) identifying the most important correlates and determinants of the behavior of rural women regarding consumption rationalization. The study was carried out in four villages in Menoufia governorate, the first village was Zanara which  belongs  to Tala district, the second village was Kafr El Sheikh Ibrahim which  belongs  to Qweisna district, the third village was Manshat Bakhati which  belongs  to Shebin El Koum district, and the last village was Al-Akhmas which  belongs  to Sadat district, 100 rural women were selected randomly from each village. Data were analyzed descriptively and analytically by using frequencies, percentages, range, mean, standard deviation, reliability estimate, cross tabulation, consistency ratio, contingency coefficient,  chi-square, and Somer's d coefficient, t-test, f-test, Scheffe-test, One-Way Anova, Eta Squared, Pearson’s r correlation coefficient,  and the multiple regression (step-wise) analysis. The most important findings of the study were:
(1) Consumption rationalization behavior was moderate as 50,25 ٪ from all respondents.
(2) Full consistency among knowledge, attitudes and practices as components of rural behavior to rationalize consumption, and significant relationship and mutual effect between these components.
(3) The most independent variables affecting the rural women's behavior of rationalizing consumption, respectively,  level of education,  basic profession,  attitudes towards savings,  marital status, degree of informal social participation,  monthly expenditure on food, monthly expenditure on water, the degree of the contribution of the respondent in family decision making, monthly income, average spend on clothes, attitudes towards innovation, rural women's satisfaction degree with their local communities. These variables had explained about 98% of the total variance of the rural women's behavior of rationalizing consumption.
Finally, some recommendations were suggested.