Investigation of scientific habits of mind of pre-service science teachers related to environmental problems

This study has two main purposes. First one is developing Eco-Scientific Habits of Mind (EHM) scale which seeks to state pre-service science teachers' scientific habits of mind related to environmental problems. In the second phase, it was aimed to determine pre-service science teachers' scientific habits of mind levels related environmental problems and to examine the effect of demographic variables on pre-service science teachers' scientific habits of mind. Survey method was conducted to give an overall picture of the case that was desired to investigate. Pilot study was carried out with 423 pre-service science teachers (3rd and 4th grades) from 6 different universities in Turkey and 145 pre-service science teachers (3rd and 4th grades) from Karadeniz Technical University were associated in the main study. Data collection tool of the study was Eco-Scientific Habits of Mind Scale which was developed by the researcher and the data was collected during pre-service science teachers' course hours by permission of the lecturer in spring term of 2016-2017. Collected data in the process of developing scale was analyzed through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) by using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0 software programs. Independent samples t-test and ANOVA was applied on data that was gathered from the main study by using SPSS 22.0 software. Analysis indicated content and construct validity of EHM scale were confirmed and Cronbach Alfa coefficient was calculated as 0.79. Accordingly, it was inferred that EHM scale which had 32 items came under 7 factors was a valid and reliable scale in order to gauge pre-service science teachers' scientific habits of mind related to environmental problems. Analyzed data that was collected with the developed scale showed pre-service science teachers possess high level of scientific habits of mind related to environmental problems. Furthermore, sub-dimensions of scientific habits of mind as objectivity, skepticism, curiosity, open mindedness and rationality were appeared to be high while mistrust of arguments from the authority and suspension of belief were low. Analyses revealed that variables as educational backgrounds of mother and father, grade level and gender were not statistically significant, whilst variable of longest lived area was statistically significant on the behalf of pre-service science teachers who have grown up in the countryside. In the light of these findings, it was found that pre-service science teachers displayed moderate -almost high- scientific attitude when confronted with environmental problems and pre-service science teachers who grown up or are currently living in the countryside possess higher level of attitude.