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Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 15, Issue 2, Article 7 (Dec., 2014) |
A study of the environmental risk perceptions and environmental awareness levels of high school students
Burcu ANILAN
Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Education
Department of Elementary Education, Eskisehir, TURKEY
E-mail: burcud@ogu.edu.tr
Received 12 Dec., 2013
Revised 25 Nov., 2014
This descriptive research was conducted to determine the levels of environmental risk perceptions and environmental awareness of high school students in Eskisehir. High school students in the towns Tepebasi and Odunpazari in the 2010-2011 school years constitute the universe of the research. The sample of the research is composed of 413 high school students in Tepebasi and Odunpazari in the 2010-2011 school years. Research data have been collected via Environmental Risk Perception and Environmental Awareness Level surveys, which were developed by the researcher. Expert views have been consulted for the validity of both surveys, and alpha values have been analysed for the reliability. The alpha value of the Environmental Risk Perception Survey is .91, and that of the Environmental Awareness Levels Survey is .80. The results show that the risk perception and environmental awareness levels of high school students in Eskisehir regarding environmental factors are high. The students participating in the survey regard active and passive smoking, global warming, HIV, nuclear waste, and the use of alcohol and drugs as “very high-level” environmental risks. Students believe that environmental problems could be primarily resolved by changing people’s standards of judgement and attitudes towards nature, and they are aware that leading a healthy life in a naturally protected environment is of greater importance than having a high-quality life; these findings indicate that their environmental awareness levels are high.
Keywords: high school, environment, environmental risk perception, environmental awareness
