EXAMINATION OF PRE-SERVICE PRIMARY TEACHERS' SENSITIVITY TOWARDS RECYCLING: A LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the sensitivity of pre-service primary teachers towards recycling longitudinally. The study group of the research consists of 93 pre-service primary teachers. They started their education in the Kastamonu University Faculty of Education Classroom Education Undergraduate Program in September 2016 and graduated in June 2020. Longitudinal survey model was used in the study. The Recycling Sensitivity Scale developed was used as a data gathering tool. The data were analyzed in the SPSS statistical package program. In the analysis of the data, t-test for independent groups, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe test for multiple comparisons were used. When the research findings were examined, it was determined that there was no significant difference between the average scores of the pre-service primary teachers while they were studying in the first, second and third grades, according to the gender variable. However, it was determined that there was a significant difference in favor of female pre-service primary teachers according the gender variable in the fourth grade. In addition, when the mean scores of pre-service primary teachers at all grade levels were compared collectively, it was determined that there was a significant difference in favor of their grades in the fourth grade according to the grade level variable. In the light of this finding, it can be thought that the environmental education course, which was taken in the fourth grade, has been effective in increasing the sensitivity towards recycling scores of fourth graders. In addition, by looking at the scores of the sensitivity scale towards recycling, it can be said that female pre-service primary teachers are more sensitive to recycling than male pre-service primary teachers.