The Decision-Making Ability of 10th Grade Students in an Arab Community in Israel to Preserve Sea Turtles

Abstract

This study examined Arab high-school students’ decision-making ability (their cognitive level) regarding a sea turtle conservation issue in relation to three independent variables: the proximity of their residence to the sea, the type of residence (city or village), and their gender. The study population consisted of tenth-grade students in high schools from the Arab sector: from urban localities, rural localities, localities close to the sea, and localities far from the sea. The main findings of the study are as follows: (1) The average Arab student’s decision-making ability is low. Most Arab students were found to have a low cognitive level. (2) A clear difference exists between students from localities close to the sea and those far from the sea. Students from localities close to the sea had greater decision-making ability. (3) A clear difference exists between students from urban localities and those from rural localities. Students from urban areas had more decision-making ability. A significant difference exists between boys and girls: girls had more decision-making ability. The main conclusion from the study is that the cognitive level of Arab students’ decision-making ability in the context of sea turtle conservation is low. This finding indicates that traditional teaching in the Arab education system does not promote, develop, and improve this ability. Most of the time the teacher asks questions and is situated in the center of the activity. Students noted that their teachers tend to involve them in lessons, but not enough in class discussions.