Examination of the ecological footprint and sustainable environmental attitudes of eighth grade students in terms of different variables

This research aimed to examine eighth grade students' attitude to the environment and sustainable ecological footprint in terms of different variables (the location, gender, the economic condition of the family, the education status of the parent). The descriptive survey model was used. The study group composed of 537 eighth grade students from Kahramanmaras and Adıyaman province centers and village in the academic year 2013-2014. In the research, as a data collection tool to measure students attitudes towards sustainable environment, "Sustainable Environmental Attitude Survey " (SÇTÖ) which consists of 23 items and online ecological footprint calculation questionnaire from the website of "World Wide Fund for Nature" consisting of 21 items towards students consumption habits was applied. The ecological footprint of the students was calculated by using a web-based ecological footprint calculation machine. Independent samples, one-way analysis of variance (anova), Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test were used for resulting survey data. At the result of study it was found that 8th grade students' attitude towards sustainable environment was at high level when compared in terms of the locations, the students who live in village and city centers had been found to be a significant difference in favor of city centers. Also, students' attitude towards sustainable environment in terms of gender, there was a significant difference in favor of female students. On the other hand, it was reached that ecological footprints were at high level in general and there was no significant difference in terms of locations and gender. As a result, although 8th grade students' attitude towards sustainable environment was at a good level, the reasons for the emergence of high ecological footprints were discussed and made suggestions.