Studying the different socio-cultural backgrounds (Antalya), primary 8 students' mental models of environmental problems

This study aims at revealing students? mental models about the concept of the environmental problems. Special case method from qualitative research method was used in this study. The study was conducted with the total sample of 102 students attending 8th grade during the 2011-2012 educational year. A test including 3 open ended questions was used to collect data. Analysis of the data was done by classifying them in terms of initial, synthetic or scientific models. The findings indicated that students generally have scientific mental models. As a result of the research, it was found out that the culture the students lived in hadn?t an important effect on their interpretation of the social problems. Key Words: Mental model, environmental education, primary education