Determination of Cognitive Structures of Primary School Fourth-Grade Students on the Concept of Recycling

Authors : Enver Türksoy, Gülşen Altıntaş

Pages : 602-611

Doi:10.24106/kefdergi.1750199

View : 79 | Download : 117

Publication Date : 2025-07-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Purpose: In this study, it was aimed to determine the cognitive structures of primary school 4th grade students regarding the concept of recycling Design/Methodology/Approach: In the research, the phenomenology design, which is one of the qualitative research designs, was used. The participants of the study consisted of 150 fourth grade students in the central district of Demirci district of Manisa province. In order to determine the cognitive structures of primary school fourth grade students regarding the concept of recycling, expert opinion was taken, and the word association form prepared by the researcher was used as a data collection tool. The responses of the fourth-grade primary school students to the key concept of \\\"Recycling\\\" were examined. For the key concept, main categories were created, and answer words were placed in line with the answer words given, considering the recycling stages determined in line with the \\\"Zero Waste\\\" project implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization in 2017, in order, appropriate categories. The answers given by the students to the key concept with the word association form were examined in detail for analysis, first descriptive analysis was made, codes were determined, and cognitive levels were determined by content analysis. The data obtained were analysed using the number of words, the number of answers and the semantic relationship technique. A frequency table was created for the scientific and non-scientific sentences of the key concept. Findings: According to the results obtained in the study, the number of words that primary school students associate with concepts related to recycling is high. In the study, it is seen that the concept of \\\"recycling\\\" creates meaningful sentences at the word level, and the sentences contain some misconceptions at the sentence level. In the sentences they create about the concept of recycling, there are misconceptions such as everything can be recycled, unused items can be recycled, old things can be renewed. Highlights: It was observed that students often confuse the concepts of \\\"recycling\\\" and \\\"reusability,\\\" and this misconception is reflected throughout the findings. Additionally, some students hold incorrect beliefs, such as the idea that all materials can be recycled or that used items automatically become recyclable. These misconceptions may hinder the development of a scientifically accurate understanding of recycling.
Keywords : Çevre eğitimi, İlkokul, Geri dönüşüm, Kavram yanılgısı

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