An evaluation of the environmental literacy of preservice teachers in Turkey through Rasch analysis

2014-03-04
The purpose of this study was to make use of proposed definitions of environmental literacy to (1) guide the application of Rasch analysis and (2) utilize the developed instrumentation to further inform the work of environmental educators. A total of 2311 preservice teachers attending Faculty of Education departments of four public universities located in the capital city of Turkey provided data for this study. The instrument used included a knowledge scale, an attitude scale, an attitude towards environmental responsibility scale and a concern scale. Rasch analysis revealed which those items which address the environmental knowledge widely broadcasted by mass media also were answered correctly by most participants. Generally, instrument items that addressed the understanding of the interrelated nature of environmental knowledge were answered incorrectly by participants. Analysis of attitude and attitude towards environmental responsibility scales indicated that the preservice teachers exhibited the most support for plant and animal rights, environmental protection laws and ecological balance. Results of the concern scale suggested that the preservice teachers were most concerned with regard to issues of poor drinking-water quality. Gender analysis revealed different orientations among females and males in terms of knowledge, attitudes, attitude towards environmental responsibility and concern scales.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESEARCH

Suggestions

A survey on Turkish elementary school students' environmental friendly behaviours and associated variables
Alp, Elvan; Ertepınar, Hamide; Tekkaya, Ceren; YILMAZ, AYHAN (Informa UK Limited, 2008-01-01)
This study investigated elementary school students' environmental knowledge and attitudes, the effects of sociodemographic variables on environmental knowledge and attitudes, and how self-reported environmentally friendly behaviour is related to environmental knowledge, behavioural intentions, environmental affects, and the students' locus of control. Data were gathered by administration of the Children's Environmental Attitudes and Knowledge Scale and Locus of Control scale to 1140 students from 18 randoml...
Investigating pre-service science teachers’ construction and understanding of environmental knowledge through field based collaborative inquiry
Cihangir, Cihan Gülin; Yılmaz Tüzün, Özgül; Department of Elementary Science and Mathematics Education (2010)
Based on the importance of implementing effective environmental education has been asserted to a sustainable solution to the environmental problems, this study aimed to (1) investigate the pre-service science teachers’ processes of construction of explanations regarding environmental problems, and (2) provide an environment for researchers to understand the dispositions of participants in terms of how using environmental explanations for answering the questions. The research has been realized within the con...
An Assessment of Factors Related to Science Achievement of Turkish Students
Kalender, Ilker; Berberoglu, Giray (Informa UK Limited, 2009-01-01)
In this study, a hypothesised model with latent variables such as socio-economic status, students' perception of success and interest in different subject matter areas, out-of-school activities, and classroom teaching learning activities in relation to science achievement of the students was tested via linear structural modelling. The data come from the Student Assessment Program-2002 conducted by the Ministry of National Education in Turkey. The results obtained in a sample of 29,911 students indicated tha...
A case study on the aspects of classroom discourse in a fifth grade mathematics class in a regional elementary boarding school
Şahin, Şule; Işıksal Bostan, Mine; Department of Elementary Science and Mathematics Education (2009)
The purpose of this study was to analyze and interpret specific aspects and characteristics of classroom discourse of an elementary mathematics classroom. To examine the classroom discourse, a fifth grade mathematics classroom was observed during sixteen weeks, and twenty lessons in total. The analysis was based on two main categories: (1) Student Learning and (2) Teacher Moves. Student Learning further divided into two sub-categories as content and learning. Additionally, Teacher Moves also divided into co...
A study on the nature and frequency of the interaction and the factors affecting interaction in language classrooms
Zengin, Emine; Kiraz, Ercan; Department of Educational Sciences (2008)
The purpose of this study was to describe and explore the nature and frequency of the interaction and the factors affecting interaction in language classrooms. This qualitative study was conducted in a private language course in Ankara, Turkey. The sample consisted of 6 teachers. The data were collected through video-camera, semi-structred interview and demographic information log. To tackle the complexity of the raw data, data were first subjected to constant comparison analysis. Second, all results were t...
Citation Formats
G. Teksöz, Ö. Yılmaz Tüzün, and C. Öztekin, “An evaluation of the environmental literacy of preservice teachers in Turkey through Rasch analysis,” ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESEARCH, pp. 202–227, 2014, Accessed: 00, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11511/36209.