Prospective teachers' understanding of environmental ethics approach: A qualitative study

Hacettepe University, Department of Mathematics and Science Education, 06800, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey

^* Corresponding author: senarhacettepe@gmail.com

Abstract

This study aims to determine prospective teachers' understanding of environmental ethics approach. The study employed qualitative research method. 20 prospective teachers were included in the research. The participants were chosen in purposeful sampling method. The research data were collected through a test of two open-ended questions developed by the researcher. The prospective teachers were asked questions on what environmental ethics approach meant, what the importance of environmental ethics in a globalizing world is and they were required to answer the questions in writing. The written answers were analyzed via content analysis. The findings obtained through content analysis were divided into categories related to the environmental ethics approach and then the themes were defined. After the analysis of the themes and categories, prospective teachers' understanding about the environmental ethics approach was revealed and then the findings were discussed in details.