Examination of changes in environmental problem perceptions of prospective science teachers: Sample of Kocaeli

Abstract

In this study, in order to determine the change in environmental problem perceptions of prospective science teachers, the Word Association Test (WAT) was applied two times to 56 prospective science teachers, who are studying at Kocaeli University, in the second year (2013) and the fourth year (2016) of the school. The data were gathered and evaluated under six themes, namely "reason", "result", "variety", "measure", "concern/pessimism" and "other". The study findings show that environmental problem perception of prospective teachers has not reached an adequate level despite the courses they take. It is necessary to focus on deficiencies in education and training and try to eliminate such deficiencies in order to prevent such lack of perception in prospective science teachers.