Evaluating Environmental Skill, Behavior and Awareness of Primary School Students, (Case Study: Andika City)

Subject Areas : مدیریت ، برنامه ریزی و آموزش محیط زیست

Syedeh Sedighah  Salehi ¹ (Department of Environmental Management, Khouzestan Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran)
Forouzan  Farrokhian ² (Department of Environment, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran *(Corresponding Author))

Received: 2017-08-23 Accepted : 2018-07-18 Published : 2020-09-22

Keywords: Environment, Awareness, BEHAVIOR, students, skill,

Abstract :

Background and Objective: Many of the environmental challenges of nations are due to inappropriate environmental behavior in the 21st century. Improving students' environmental skills as future decision makers and increasing their abilities and appropriate behavior with the environment, requires knowledge and awareness associated with it, so this study aims to identify the level of environmental behavior, awareness and skills of primary school students. Method: The study method is descriptive and survey type and its statistical population consisted of elementary school students in Indika in 2017. Among them, a sample of 245 people was selected using cluster random sampling method and the required information was collected by a researcher-made questionnaire. The apparent validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was confirmed by calculating the Cronbach's alpha coefficient (for the variables of environmental skill, behavior and awareness, respectively 0.79, 0.70, 0.84). Findings: Findings showed that 73.5% of students have good environmental skills. 67% of students show strongly agree statement related to environment while 20% of them are agreed. Also, 72% of students are fully aware of environmental issues while 26% of them have a little aware. The results of correlation analysis revealed average of environmental behavior, awareness and skill of female students were more than male students and in terms of employment status of parents of students, the most awareness and environmental behavior belongs to those students whose father's job were farmers, and most of the skills were related to students whose father's job was an employee. The results of correlation analysis showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between environmental skills, behavior and awareness with the students' academic base. Discussion and Conclusion: Gender, parents' occupation and educational level have been effective in students' environmental skill, behavior and awareness. To improve pro-environmental behaviors, it is necessary to strengthen awareness resources to institutionalize the readiness and inclination to take practical action to protect the environment in the form of environmental skills.  

References:

1. Makhdoum, M.F, .2014. Fundamental of land use planning. University of Tehran press. (In Persian)


2. Taei, H, 2011. Evaluation the observance of environmental components when providing educational toys for children frompoint of view of parents and teachers, thesis of Payame Noor University.(In Persian)


3. Andersson, H., Tago, D., and Treich. N. 2014. Pesticides and Health: a Review of Evidence on Health Effects, valuation of Risks, and Benefit-Cost Analysis. Preference Measurement in Health, 1-61.


4. Burton, R, J., 2014. The Influence of Farmer Demographic Characteristics on Environmentl Behavior: a Review. Journal of Environmental Management, 135, 19-26.


5. Khaje Shhkouhi, A.R., Najafikani, A.A., Vesal, Z. 2015. Factors Affecting Environmental Awareness of Rural people (Case Study: Jaghargh Dehestan in Binalud Country). Journal of Reseach and Planning, 4 (1), 85-95.(In Persian)


6. Salehi, S., Imam Gholi, L. 2012. The Impact of Social Capital on Environmental Behavior (Case Study of Kurdistan Province). Journal of Sociology of Iran. 13(4), 90-115. (In Persian)


7. Thompson, S. C. and Barton, M. A., 1994. Ecocentric and Anthropocentric Attitudes. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 14: 149-157.


8. Taei, H. 2011. Evaluting the Observance of Environmental Components when Providing Educational Toys for Children Frompoint of View of Parents and Teachers. Thesis of Payamenoor University. (In Persian)


9. Andersson, H., Tago, D., and Trich, N. 2014. Pesticides and Health: A Review of Evidence on Health Effects, Valuation of Risks, and Benefit-Cost Analysis. Preference Measurement in Health, 1-61.


10. Altin A., Selcen T., Lokman T., Süreyya A., Bekir F. K., (2014) Environmental Awareness Level of Secondary School Students: A Case Study In Balıkesir (Türkiye), Social And Behavioral Sciences, Volume 141, Pages 1208-1214


11. Elif Alaydin, Gulcin Demirel, Sureyya Altin, Ahmet Altin (2014). Environmental Knowledge of Primary School Students: Zonguldak (Turkey) Example, Social And Behavioral Sciences, Volume 141, 1150-1155


12. Emily L., Qingmin S., (2014) Exploring Individual and School Related Factors and Environmental Literacy: Comparing U.S. and Canada Using Pisa 2006, International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, Volume 12, Issue 1, PP: 73-97.


13. Altuntaş, E. Ç., and Turan, S. L., (2018) Awareness of Secondary School Students about Renewable Energy Sources. Renewable Energy, Volume 116, Part A, 741-748.


14. Aghili, S.M., Khoshfar, Gh. Salehi, S., 2009. Social Capital and Responsible Environmental Behaviors in Nothern Iran (Case Study of Gilan, Mazanaran and Golestan Provinces). Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. PP. 236-250.(In Persian)


15. Kairser, F. Wolfing, S. and Fuhrer, U., 1999. Environmental Attitude and Ecological. Journal of Environmental Psycholigy, 19(1), 1-19.


16. Brown, L. R. 2008. Resuing Aplanet Under Stress and Acivilization in Trouble (Translated by Hamid Taravati). Tehran Iranian Student Book Agency.


17.   Karimi, D. 2003. Evaluating the Environmental Education Needs of Students, Teachers and Housewives in the White Soil Area of Tehran. Journal of Environment. No. 4, PP. 16-17. (In Persian)


18. Mirdamadi, M., Bagheri Varkaneh, A., Esmaeili, S. 2010. Knowledge of High School Students in Tehran from Environmental Protection. Journal of Environment Science and Technology. 12(1). PP. 201-216. (In Persian)


19. Nasrazadani, A.2011. The Impact of Age, Gender, and Educational Resouces on the Recognation of Childeren from the Environment. 5^th National Conference on Global Environment Day. (In Persian)


20. Salehi, S. Ghaemiasl, Z. 2013. The Relationship between Environmental Education and Environmental Protection Behaviors (Case Study: Highschool Girls in Babol City). Journal of Environmental Education and Sustanabele Development. 1(13). PP. 67-79. (In Persian)