Research Article
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The Predictive Power of Preservice Teachers' Attitudes towards Solid Waste and Recycling on Environmental Approaches

Year 2025, Volume: 13 Issue: 3, 1525 - 1564
https://doi.org/10.46778/goputeb.1637927

Abstract

Today, increasing population, rapid urbanization, and consumption habits bring problems such as environmental pollution and waste management to the forefront. In this context, environmental awareness and sustainability concepts are among the critical skills that can be developed in individuals through education. In particular, educators' attitudes and approaches to issues such as the protection of natural resources, waste reduction, and recycling can directly affect the level of environmental awareness of future generations. This study tested whether the solid waste and recycling (SWR) attitudes of preservice teachers predicted the environmental approach. In this context, the relational model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study. The study group of the research consisted of 712 preservice teachers pursuing their education at a state university in 2024. The study data were collected using the Attitude towards Solid Waste and Recycling Scale, the New Ecological Paradigm Scale, and the Personal Information Form, including the demographic characteristics of the participants. Independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA test, correlation, and regression analysis were applied to analyze the data collected online via Google Forms. According to the study results, preservice teachers' SWR attitudes and “ecocentric” approaches are high, while their “anthropocentric” approaches are at a medium level. Preservice teachers' SWR attitudes and “ecocentric” approaches showed significant differences according to the variables of gender, field of study, and participation in environmental activities. In this context, it was determined that female preservice teachers and preservice teachers who participated in environmental activities were more sensitive to recycling solid waste and protecting the environment. With the stepwise multiple regression analysis, it was concluded that preservice teachers' SWR attitudes were significant predictors of their “ecocentric” approaches. Conducting activities that will increase the environmental awareness of individuals in our universities, where future teachers are trained, and sharing the results of these activities can enhance individuals' belief that recycling waste and these activities are beneficial to the environment, and foster their “ecocentric” approaches.

Ethical Statement

The ethics committee permission for this research was obtained by the Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Social and Human Sciences Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee in the session dated 25.04.2024 with the decision number 2024/04/13.

Supporting Institution

The study is supported by TUBITAK 2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Program

Project Number

TBTK-0145-1739

References

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Öğretmen Adaylarının Katı Atık ve Geri Dönüşüm Tutumlarının Çevresel Yaklaşımlarını Yordama Gücü

Year 2025, Volume: 13 Issue: 3, 1525 - 1564
https://doi.org/10.46778/goputeb.1637927

Abstract

Günümüzde artan nüfus, hızlı kentleşme ve tüketim alışkanlıkları, çevre kirliliği ve atık yönetimi gibi sorunları ön plana çıkarmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, çevre bilinci ve sürdürülebilirlik kavramları, eğitim yoluyla bireylerde geliştirilebilecek kritik beceriler arasında yer almaktadır. Özellikle eğitimcilerin doğal kaynakların korunması, atıkların azaltılması ve geri dönüştürülmesi gibi konulardaki tutum ve yaklaşımları, gelecek nesillerin çevresel farkındalık düzeyini doğrudan etkileyebilir. Bu araştırmada öğretmen adaylarının katı atık ve geri dönüşüm tutumlarının (KAGD) çevresel yaklaşımı yordayıp yordamadığı test edilmiştir. Bu bağlamda araştırmada nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden ilişkisel model kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 2024 yılında bir devlet üniversitesinde öğrenimine devam eden 712 öğretmen adayı oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın verileri Katı Atık ve Geri Dönüşüme Yönelik Tutum Ölçeği, Yeni Çevresel Paradigma Ölçeği ve katılımcıların demografik özelliklerini içeren Kişisel Bilgi Formu ile toplanmıştır. Google formlar yardımıyla çevrimiçi toplanan verilerin analizinde bağımsız örneklemler için t-Testi, One Way ANOVA testi, korelasyon ve regresyon analizi uygulanmıştır. Araştırmanın sonuçlarına göre öğretmen adaylarının KAGD tutumları ile çevre merkezci yaklaşımları yüksek, insan merkezci yaklaşımları ise orta düzeydedir. Öğretmen adaylarının KAGD tutumları ile çevresel yaklaşımları cinsiyet, okudukları bölüm, çevresel faaliyetlere katılma durumu değişkenlerine göre anlamlı farklılıklar göstermiştir. Bu bağlamda kadın öğretmen adaylarının ve çevresel faaliyetlere katılan öğretmen adaylarının katı atıkları geri dönüştürme ve çevreyi korumaya karşı daha duyarlı oldukları tespit edilmiştir. Yapılan aşamalı çoklu regresyon analizi ile öğretmen adaylarının KAGD tutumlarının çevre merkezci yaklaşımlarının anlamlı yordayıcısı olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Geleceğin öğretmenlerinin yetiştirildiği üniversitelerimizde bireylerin çevresel farkındalıklarını artıracak faaliyetler yürütülmesi ve sonuçlarının paylaşılması, bireylerin atıkların geri dönüştürülmesine ve bu faaliyetlerin çevreye faydalı olduğuna inancını artırarak çevre merkezci yaklaşımlarını artırabilir.

Ethical Statement

Bu araştırmanın etik kurulu izni Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Bilimsel Araştırma ve Yayın Etik Kurulu tarafından 25.04.2024 tarihli oturumda 2024/04/13 karar sayısıyla alınmıştır.

Supporting Institution

Çalışma Tübitak 2209-A Üniversite Öğrenciler Araştırma Projeleri Destekleme Programı tarafından desteklenmektedir.

Project Number

TBTK-0145-1739

References

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  • Aksakal, Ş. (2013). Determination of science and technology teacher candidates’ sensitivity about recycling [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Fırat University.
  • Alpak Tunç, G. (2016). Investigation of prospective science teachers’ ethical approach towards environment with attitudes towards sustainable environment [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Adnan Menderes University.
  • Artvinli, E., Aydın, R., & Terzi, İ. (2019). Pre-service teacher education at ecological footprint awareness: Level of classroom teacher candidates. Osmangazi Journal of Educational Research, 6(1), 1–24. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1032478
  • Aydın, F., & Ünaldı, Ü. E. (2013). Coğrafya öğretmen adaylarının sürdürülebilir çevreye yönelik tutumları [Attitudes of geography teacher candidates towards sustainable environment]. Kalem Eğitim ve İnsan Bilimleri Dergisi, 3(1), 11–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.23863/kalem.2017.18
  • Ayeleru, O. O., Fewster-Young, N., Gbashi, S., Akintola, A. T., Ramatsa, I. M., & Olubambi, P. A. (2023). A statistical analysis of recycling attitudes and behaviours towards municipal solid waste management: A case study of the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Cleaner Waste Systems, 4, 100077. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clwas.2023.100077
  • Aytaç, M., & Öngen, B. (2012). The structure of environmental attitudes: First-order confirmatory factor analysis. Journal of Statisticians: Statistics and Actuarial Sciences, 5(1), 14–22.
  • Bollen, K. A. (1989). A new incremental fit index for general structural equation models. Sociological Methods & Research, 17(3), 303–316. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124189017003004
  • Bulut, A. (2020). Teacher opinions about children’s awareness of zero waste and recycling in the preschool education years. Review of International Geographical Education Online, 10(3), 351–372. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/969580
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  • Cirit-Gül, A., Tağrikulu, P., Çobanoğlu, İ. H., & Çobanoğlu, E. O. (2022). Evaluation of prospective teachers’ attitudes towards sustainable environmental education. Inonu University Journal of the Faculty of Education, 23(1), 645–670. https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.1062923
  • Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating. 260(1), 375–382.
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There are 66 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Science Education, Development of Environmental Education and Programs
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Yasemin Kuzu 0000-0003-4301-2645

İbrahim Uğur Orhan 0009-0006-8233-8794

Project Number TBTK-0145-1739
Early Pub Date September 26, 2025
Publication Date October 3, 2025
Submission Date February 12, 2025
Acceptance Date June 23, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 13 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Kuzu, Y., & Orhan, İ. U. (2025). The Predictive Power of Preservice Teachers’ Attitudes towards Solid Waste and Recycling on Environmental Approaches. International Journal of Turkish Education Sciences, 13(3), 1525-1564. https://doi.org/10.46778/goputeb.1637927