The determination of environmental literacy levels of 8th grade students and examination of students' environmental literacy level in terms of various variables

The purpose of this study is to determine the environmental literacy levels of 8th grade students and to demonstrate the effects of the several variables over the components of environmental literacy (knowledge-affect-behavior-cognitive skill). The study was carried out with 182 8th grade students at 5 different elementary school in Saimbeyli, Adana using survey model in 2011-2012 educational year.?Environmental Literacy Survey?, which was composed of 5 parts as personal information form, scale for affective dispositions toward the environment, scale for responsible environmental behavior, environmental knowledge test and problem identification and problem solving skills test, was used in order to determine the environmental literacy levels of of 8th grade students. The effect of 6 demographic variables according to the four components forming the environmental literacy of of 8th grade students. The analysis of the data was conducted using SPSS statistical software program. During the data analysis, descriptive statistics, t¬-test for independent samples, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and simple correlation were used.According to the findings of the study, it was found that the environmental knowledge and environmental behaviors were at a medium level; affective tendencies were at a high level; and cognitive skills were at a low level. When the averages of total scores that pre-service teachers obtained from four different components forming the environmental literacy were examined, it was seen that their environmental literacy levels were at a medium level.When the relationship among the components forming the environmental literacy, it was found that there was a positive, low level and significant relationship between knowledge and affective tendency; a positive, low level and significant relationship between knowledge and skill; There was no significant relationship between the others components forming the environmental literacyKeywords: Environmental literacy, Elementary school students, Environmental knowledge, Environmental affect, Environmental behavior, Cognitive skill.