ERIC Number: EJ1467397
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1472-9679
EISSN: EISSN-1754-0402
Available Date: 0000-00-00
The Impacts of Environmental Education on Homeschoolers' Attitudes toward Nature
Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, v25 n1 p84-99 2025
Previous research indicates that learners appear to connect with nature and have heightened environmental perceptions after participating in environmental education programs (EEPs). Positive changes in attitudes toward nature are important because they can precede environmentally responsible behaviors, such as individuals' leadership on environmental issues. Much of the existing EEP research has been conducted in school settings. This exploratory study aimed to contribute to the existing literature by examining changes in homeschoolers' attitudes toward nature after participating in an EEP. Data was collected through a pre- and post-test quantitative instrument and two qualitative mechanisms and analyzed using independent-samples t-tests and paired-samples t-tests, and content analysis, respectively. Results showed greater connection to nature and positive changes in environmental perceptions for the homeschool participant sample. However, statistically significant changes were limited, and quantitative measures showed little change in homeschoolers' eco-affinity or behavioral intentions. Recommendations for continued research with the homeschooled community are discussed.
Descriptors: Environmental Education, Home Schooling, Student Attitudes, Natural Resources, Preadolescents, Adolescents, Attitude Change, Program Effectiveness
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1School of Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, USA; 2Department of Parks and Recreation Management, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA