Investigating Pre-service Teachers' Knowledge and Behaviors toward Environment

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between knowledge and behaviors of elementary pre-service teachers who attend various majors. In addition, the knowledge and behaviors of pre-service teachers were compared on different variables. 619 pre-service teachers participated in the study which used the descriptive survey model. The Test of Knowledge of Environmental Problems and Environmentally Sensitive Behavior Scale were used to collect data in the study. As a result of the study, it was found that pre-service teachers' environment knowledge and behaviors differ in relation to their years of education at the university, their information about environment and nature; and their levels of curiosity towards environment. Furthermore, it was concluded that pre-service teachers' knowledge of environment differed significantly on gender and whether they had taken any environment classes; their behaviors toward environment differed significantly on the frequency of visiting sites of nature, membership in environment clubs/associations, and whether they have family members worried about environmental pollution. Some suggestions based on results were included in the study.