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Asia-Pacific Forum
on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 10, Issue 1, Article 11
(June, 2009) |
Data relating to answers in the questionnaire are indicated in the tables. Data was divided into two sections. The first indicates categorization and frequency of answers related to protection of endangered bird species, while the second indicates categorization and frequency in associations of the words Chukar partridge and Hermit ibis.
a. Protection of endangered bird species
Answers given by student science teachers related to the protection of endangered bird species were divided into five categories (a total of 415). Eighteen different answers were obtained after similar answers were grouped. These were divided into five categories, qualified with the key words and usage frequency of words in each category noted. Table 1 shows that participants have the opinion that human intervention (e.g., laws protecting birds, protection of the environment, preventing pollution, protecting natural environments, forestation, regulations on reproduction zones) is required for the protection of endangered bird species. The high frequency of answers mentioning bird hunting prohibitions is remarkable. Required controls, especially in hunting areas, have been conducted frequently, especially in 2007. It is also understood from Table 1 that a certain number of people did not answer the question or did not have sufficient information to deal with the issue of how endangered bird species can be protected. Even though all participants are future educators, only a small minority emphasized the importance of education in the protection of endangered bird species.
Table 1: Protection of endangered bird species (categories and answers given according to categories and frequency of answers)
Categories
Answers given according to each category and their frequency
Total frequency of answers included in each category
Ineffective
I cannot help them (4)
4
No answer
I have no answer (24)
I don’t know (3)27
Human interventions
Prohibition on hunting and shooting birds (109)
Feeding birds (78)
Protection of natural environments (58)
Ensuring birds to reproduce through scientific means and in cages (49)
Decreasing protection (16)
Incubation and protection of eggs (14)
Performing forestation (13)
Developing artificial incubation (10)
Laws protecting birds (9)
Performing cloning (3)359
Education
Educating students in schools (10)
Encouraging protection through the internet, television and magazines (7)
Providing education in protection associations (3)
Educating people (2)22
Inherent value
I love them, we should let them live (3)
3
b. Word associations for “Chukar partridge” and “Hermit ibis”
Hermit ibis
Student science teachers’ associations with Hermit ibis are divided into four categories and composed of 417 associations. Thirteen different associations emerged after the integration answers with the same meaning. They were also divided into four categories and eventually a calculation was made relating to the frequency of word groups in each category.
Table 2: Associations for Hermit ibis word (categories and answers given according to categories and frequency of answers)
Categories
Answers included in each category and their frequency
Total frequency
No answer/I don’t know
No answer or I don’t know
68
Bird
Endangered species (123), hairless and red head (54), bird (41), eating fish (15), black colour (4)
237
Emotional dimension
Ugly appearance (19), feeling of resentment (8), innocent pose (7), feeling of being rare (7)
41
Environment
Sanliurfa city (53), zoo (13), steppe (5)
71
The bird category is again dominant, as indicated in Table 2. It seems that student science teachers have some knowledge about the endangered characteristics, appearance and living environment of the Hermit ibis. It is also apparent that 68 student science teachers did not give an answer or answered as I don’t know.
Chukar partridge
Associations of student science teachers are divided into four categories composed of 601 associations. Twelve different associations emerged after the integration of these words that had the same meaning. They were also divided into four categories, and a calculation relating to the frequency of word groups in each category was made. Table 3 indicates that the bird category is, once again, dominant. It would appear that student science teachers have some knowledge about the Chukar partridge, such as that it is hunted for its delicious meat, its appearance, existence of songs and folk-songs about the Chukar partridge and its ecology. It also seems that 45 student science teachers did not give an answer or answered as I don’t know.
Table 3: Associations for Chukar partridge word (categories and answers given according to categories and frequency of answers)
Categories
Answers included in each category and their frequency
Total frequency
No answer/I don’t know
No answer or I don’t know
45
Bird
Hunted for its delicious meat (103), beautiful voice (101), bird (88), good running (49), beautiful colour (43), endangered species (12)
396
Emotional dimension
Bland and compassionate (13)
13
Environment
Plains (19), mountains (17), cage (3)
39
Song, folk-song
Song and folk-song (108)
108
Evidence obtained from this study creates a basis for identifying the complexity of associations, opinions and primary concepts relating to endangered bird species and their protection. Evidence from our study is similar to the results of Torkar and Bajd (2006). Such complex associations definitely must be taken into account, especially while organizing protection activities and creating educational strategies by which a larger amount of people are targeted in order to protect endangered bird species and habitats. Legal arrangements and controls relating to hunting should be enforced more strictly in Turkey. Taking into account ovulating times and maturity time of babies while hunting and paying required attention to avoid exceeding limits during these hunting periods will contribute to the prevention of the extinction of these bird species.
