Analysis of research on "Water literacy, water awareness and water footprint" in Turkey

This study aims to systematically analyze the educational trends of academic research in Turkey focusing on the concepts of water literacy, water awareness, and water footprint. As the global water crisis continues to intensify, the importance of environmental education is growing; in this context, transforming individuals' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to water through education emerges as a prominent goal. Accordingly, the study is based on the PRISMA method and involves the content analysis of 50 studies published between 2010 and 2024 that have been academically validated and are accessible. The analyzed studies are categorized by sample group, research type, conceptual orientation, and educational outcomes. The findings show that most studies target students and pre-service teachers, predominantly employ quantitative methods, and most frequently address the concept of water awareness. Furthermore, it was observed that the studies mainly focus on cognitive outcomes but are limited in addressing behavioral sustainability. Within the theoretical framework, the Theory of Planned Behavior, Social Cognitive Theory, and Constructivist Learning Approach are used to explain how environmental education relates to multidimensional learning domains. Overall, it is suggested that educational practices aiming to foster water awareness and water literacy should be restructured with more holistic, interdisciplinary, and behavior-oriented approaches.