The Impact of Documentary Videos on Fifth Grade Students’ Environmental Attitudes

Nazlıcan Donduran Işık; Eylem Yalçınkaya Önder

doi:10.18009/jcer.1806080

TR EN

The Impact of Documentary Videos on Fifth Grade Students’ Environmental Attitudes

Abstract

This study examined the impact of documentary lesson videos on fifth-grade students’ environmental attitudes using a mixed-methods design. Two classes taught by the same science teacher were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 23; curriculum enriched with documentary-supported materials) or a control group (n = 23; standard curriculum). The Environmental Attitude Scale was administered before and after the intervention. Findings revealed that post-test attitude scores were significantly higher in the experimental group. Although females generally scored higher, the difference between genders was not statistically significant. Qualitative results indicated increased awareness of biodiversity, sustainability, environmental pollution, and natural disasters. Students found the documentaries engaging and reported that the audio-visual content facilitated their learning. These results suggest that documentary videos may effectively support both cognitive and affective outcomes in environmental education.

Keywords

Documentary videos, environmental attitude, science education, middle school students

Ethical Statement

Name of the board that carries out ethical assessment: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Graduate Education Institute, Scientific Research Ethics Committee The date and number of the ethical assessment decision: 09.12.2021 – 21/18 (Project Code: 2021-YÖNP-0876)

References

Aslan, O., Sağır, Ş. U., & Cansaran, A. (2008). Çevre tutum ölçeği uyarlanması ve ilköğretim öğrencilerinin çevre tutumlarının belirlenmesi. Selçuk Üniversitesi Ahmet Keleşoğlu Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 25(1), 283-295.
Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice Hall.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Byrne, B. M. (2010). Structural equation modeling with Mplus: Basic concepts, applications, and programming (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203807644
Çakirlar-Altuntaş, E., & Turan, S. L., (2025). Effectiveness of documentary-based augmented reality application in teaching environmental problems. Journal of Biological Education, 59(1), 4–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2023.2282423
Creswell, J. W., & Clark, V. L. P. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Sage.
Furman, M., & Calabrese Barton, A. (2006). Capturing urban student voices in the creation of a science mini-documentary. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 43(7), 667–694.
Gün Şahin, E., & Arslan, H. Ö. (2022). The effects of animated cartoon series on 5th grade students’ environmental literacy sub-dimensions: The case of “SU ELÇİLERİ”. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, 11(2), 432–445.
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Prentice Hall.
Huang, T. C., Chen, C. C., & Chou, Y. W. (2016). Animating eco-education: To see, feel, and discover in an augmented reality-based experiential learning environment. Computers & Education, 96, 72-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2016.02.008

Kim, S. Y., Yi, S. W., & Cho, E. H. (2014). Production of a science documentary and its usefulness in teaching the nature of science: Indirect experience of how science works. Science & Education, 23(5), 1197–1216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-013-9614-5
Kuchel, L. J., Stevens, S. K., Wilson, R., & Cokley, J. (2014). A documentary video assignment to enhance learning in large first-year science classes. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 22(4), 48–64.
Laursen, S. L., & Brickley, A. (2011). Focusing the camera lens on the nature of science: Evidence for the effectiveness of documentary film as a broader impacts strategy. Journal of Geoscience Education, 59(3), 126–138. https://doi.org/10.5408/1.3604825
Leeming, F. C., Dwyer, W. O., & Bracken, B. A. (1995). Children's environmental attitude and knowledge scale: Construction and validation. Journal of Environmental Education, 26(3), 22–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.1995.9941442
Malitsky, J. (2012). Science and documentary: Unity, indexicality, reality. Journal of Visual Culture, 11(3), 237–257. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470412912455615
Mayer, R. E. (2001). Multimedia learning. Cambridge University Press.
Palmer, J. (1998). Environmental education in the 21st century: Theory, practice, progress and promise. Routledge.
Petty, R. E., & Cacioppo, J. T. (1986). Communication and persuasion: Central and peripheral routes to attitude change. Springer-Verlag.
Safitri, D., Lestari, I., Maksum, A., Ibrahim, N., Marini, A., Zahari, M., & Iskandar, R. (2021). Web-based animation video for student environmental education at elementary schools. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 15(11), 66–80.
Schultz, P. W. (2000). New environmental theories: Empathizing with nature: The effects of perspective taking on concern for environmental issues. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 391–406. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00174
Staus, N. L., & Falk, J. H. (2017). The role of emotion in informal science learning: Testing an exploratory model. Mind, Brain, and Education, 11(2), 45–53.
Tilbury, D. (1995). Environmental education for sustainability: Defining the new focus of environmental education in the 1990s. Environmental Education Research, 1(2), 195–212.
Topal, M., Yıldırım, E. G., & Önder, A. N. (2020). Use of educational films in environmental education as a digital learning object. Journal of Education in Science Environment and Health, 6(2), 134–147. https://doi.org/10.21891/jeseh.703492
UNESCO. (2017). Education for sustainable development goals: Learning objectives. UNESCO.
Van Dijck, J. (2006). Picturizing science: The science documentary as multimedia spectacle. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 9(1), 5–24.
Walker, E. B., & Lazar, K. B. (2022). Students as science content creators and evaluators: A case study of video documentary storytelling in science education. Journal of College Science Teaching, 52(2), 3–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/0047231X.2022.12290499
Xie, T., & Yang, Y. (2024). Use of immersive virtual reality in environmental education: Effects on environmental empathy, skill transfer, and attitudes. Interactive Learning Environments, 33(4), 3091–3105. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2024.2436947
Yang, B., Wu, N., Tong, Z., & Sun, Y. (2022). Narrative-based environmental education improves environmental awareness and environmental attitudes in children aged 6–8. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11), Article 6483.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Science Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Nazlıcan Donduran Işık This is me
0009-0002-7176-9928
Türkiye

Eylem Yalçınkaya Önder ^*
0000-0003-1306-9931
Türkiye

Publication Date

May 15, 2026

Submission Date

October 18, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 31, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 14

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18009/jcer.1806080

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA47DN66ZG

APA

Donduran Işık, N., & Yalçınkaya Önder, E. (2026). The Impact of Documentary Videos on Fifth Grade Students’ Environmental Attitudes. Journal of Computer and Education Research, 14. https://doi.org/10.18009/jcer.1806080

AMA

1.Donduran Işık N, Yalçınkaya Önder E. The Impact of Documentary Videos on Fifth Grade Students’ Environmental Attitudes. JCER. 2026;14. doi:10.18009/jcer.1806080

Chicago

Donduran Işık, Nazlıcan, and Eylem Yalçınkaya Önder. 2026. “The Impact of Documentary Videos on Fifth Grade Students’ Environmental Attitudes”. Journal of Computer and Education Research 14 (May). https://doi.org/10.18009/jcer.1806080.

EndNote

Donduran Işık N, Yalçınkaya Önder E (May 1, 2026) The Impact of Documentary Videos on Fifth Grade Students’ Environmental Attitudes. Journal of Computer and Education Research 14

IEEE

[1]N. Donduran Işık and E. Yalçınkaya Önder, “The Impact of Documentary Videos on Fifth Grade Students’ Environmental Attitudes”, JCER, vol. 14, May 2026, doi: 10.18009/jcer.1806080.

ISNAD

Donduran Işık, Nazlıcan - Yalçınkaya Önder, Eylem. “The Impact of Documentary Videos on Fifth Grade Students’ Environmental Attitudes”. Journal of Computer and Education Research 14 (May 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.18009/jcer.1806080.

JAMA

1.Donduran Işık N, Yalçınkaya Önder E. The Impact of Documentary Videos on Fifth Grade Students’ Environmental Attitudes. JCER. 2026;14. doi:10.18009/jcer.1806080.

MLA

Donduran Işık, Nazlıcan, and Eylem Yalçınkaya Önder. “The Impact of Documentary Videos on Fifth Grade Students’ Environmental Attitudes”. Journal of Computer and Education Research, vol. 14, May 2026, doi:10.18009/jcer.1806080.

Vancouver

1.Nazlıcan Donduran Işık, Eylem Yalçınkaya Önder. The Impact of Documentary Videos on Fifth Grade Students’ Environmental Attitudes. JCER. 2026 May 1;14. doi:10.18009/jcer.1806080