Determining high school students’ functional environmental literacy and the effect of participatory action research on functional environmental literacy

Abstract

This quantitative study employed both survey and experimental research designs to investigate environmental literacy and engagement among high school students in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Survey data collected from 269 students revealed their awareness, feelings, and knowledge of environmental issues, while a group of 65 students underwent experimental research (over a three-month period) to assess its impact on their ecological knowledge. Results revealed heightened awareness of environmental issues in urban areas, with pollution and waste management identified as significant concerns. Notably, students exhibited nuanced environmental attitudes influenced by school contexts, gender, and socioeconomic factors. Moreover, students’ engagement in environmental protection activities varied across school types, with private school students showing higher involvement levels. Importantly, engaging in action research significantly enhanced students’ knowledge of ecology and environmental science, indicating the transformative potential of experiential learning approaches.