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From Perception to Sustainability: Validating a Tool to Assess Students’ Awareness of the Ecological, Utilitarian, and Cultural Roles of Plants

Author

Listed:
  • Sena Seçil Akpınarlı

    (Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Education, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06800, Türkiye)

  • Pınar Köseoğlu

    (Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Education, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06800, Türkiye)

Abstract

This study presents the development of the Plant Perception Scale (PPS), a multidimensional tool designed to assess high school students’ awareness of the ecological, utilitarian, and cultural significance of plants. Positioned within the broader goal of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), the scale aims to identify perception gaps that may hinder students’ engagement with biodiversity and sustainability. Following a rigorous development process—including item generation, expert review, pilot testing, and psychometric validation—the final 21-item scale revealed a three-factor structure: Ecological Awareness and Sustainability Perception (12 items), Utility-Oriented Plant Perception (5 items), and Cultural and Aesthetic Perception (4 items). Exploratory Factor Analysis confirmed data suitability (KMO = 0.920; Bartlett’s χ 2 (210) = 2245.215, p < 0.001). Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the structure with strong fit indices (χ 2 /df = 2.204; CFI = 0.949; RMSEA = 0.055). Internal consistency was high (Cronbach’s α = 0.88 for the total scale; factor α values ranged from 0.823 to 0.939). The PPS contributes to sustainable education by offering a reliable framework to evaluate plant-related awareness among adolescents and can serve as a diagnostic and pedagogical tool to guide curriculum development and educational interventions in support of the SDGs.

Suggested Citation

  • Sena Seçil Akpınarlı & Pınar Köseoğlu, 2025. "From Perception to Sustainability: Validating a Tool to Assess Students’ Awareness of the Ecological, Utilitarian, and Cultural Roles of Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5540-:d:1680104
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