The Challenge of Global Environmental Change: Attitudinal Trends in Teachers-In-Training

Mercedes Varela-Losada, Pedro Vega-Marcote, María Lorenzo-Rial and Uxío Pérez-Rodríguez
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Mercedes Varela-Losada: Department of Special Didactics, University of Vigo, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain
Pedro Vega-Marcote: Department of Pedagogy and Didactics, University of A Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain
María Lorenzo-Rial: Department of Special Didactics, University of Vigo, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain
Uxío Pérez-Rodríguez: Department of Special Didactics, University of Vigo, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: The aim of our research was to study attitudinal trends in Spanish trainee teachers regarding Global Environmental Change (GEC), in order to identify elements that should be enhanced in their education. The Scale of Global Environmental Change (SGEC) was used as a measurement instrument to explore attitudes on how to deal with GEC. A cluster analysis of the scores of the four SGEC factors (N = 950) was carried out in order to segment the cases into groups of similar response profiles. Two solutions are proposed: one made up of two clusters (Concerned and Disengaged) and the other of four clusters (Egocentric, Indifferent, Sceptical and Committed). Furthermore, we have analysed whether some of the students’ characteristics significantly influence their inclusion in one cluster or another. The results of this study show that among trainee teachers there are sceptical, self-centered and indifferent trends, which do not correspond to people capable of promoting the transformation needed to deal with GEC. Therefore, it is necessary to improve their training with new educational models that favour the recognition of the real origin of socio-environmental problems and provide them with skills to promote individual and social responsibility.

Keywords: global environmental change; attitudinal trends; cluster analysis; trainee teachers; education for sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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