Determining Preservice Science Teachers' Cognitive Structures Related to the Environment by Using Word Association Test

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal preservice science teachers’ cognitive structures related to environment by using word association test. With this aim, some concepts related to environment were selected purposively. In this descriptive case study, the data was collected from 2022-2023 educational term 3rd (N=58) and 4th (N=46) grade preservice science teachers. Five selected words which were “global warming”, “climate change”, “sustainability”, “environmental problems”, and “environmental awareness” were given to preservice science teachers, and they wrote related words in five minutes. For data analysis, frequency table was prepared by analyzing the words of the preservice science teachers for each concept. Then, breakpoint technique was used to develop concept network. According to the preliminary findings of this study, 4th grade preservice science teachers have more conceptions related to the environment compared to 3rd grade preservice science teachers. In addition to that, preservice science teachers’ cognitive structures of global warming and climate change is higher compared to other concepts. Lastly, most of the students’ cognitive structures of “environmental problems”, environmental awareness” and “sustainability” is low.