INVESTIGATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND COGNITIVE STRUCTURES OF THE 5^th GRADE STUDENTS

43865

Social studies course aims to provide individuals with various attitudes, skills and behaviors related to the environment. The aim of this study is to investigate the environmental awareness and environmental cognitive structures of 5th grade students. For this purpose, mixed method was used in the research. The environmental awareness scale, consisting of 35 items and 4 sub- dimensions, was used as a measurement tool. At the same time, word association test consisting of the concepts of environment, forest, water, waste was used in the research. The study group of the study consists of a total of 228 5th grade students, 102 of whom are girls and 126 of whom are boys, studying in a public school in the Central Anatolian region, which has been chosen according to the simple random sampling method. SPSS computer program was used in the analysis of quantitative data. In the analysis of qualitative data, in the word association test, repeated words related to key concepts were examined by the students. Accordingly, a concept network was created for the words whose frequencies were determined and the breakpoint technique was used. In the quantitative findings of the study, it was determined that students environmental awareness was high. As a result of the word association test, it was determined that the students often had the opportunity to experience or write the words they observed. According to the results of the research, students should be provided with more experience to gain awareness about the environment.

73

Cognitive Structures , Environmental Awareness , Environment , Student

International Journal of Geography and Geography Education

87

International Journal of Geography and Geography Education