Modeling, development and validation of environmental behavior scale for preservice teachers

Abstract This research aimed to formulate a robust and valid measurement instrument for evaluating the environmental behavior levels of prospective teachers. The study focused on detailing the analyses conducted on the Environmental Behavior Scale (EBS). Content validity was ascertained through expe...

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Main Authors: Ece Avinç, Fatih Doğan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01277-8
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author Ece Avinç
Fatih Doğan
author_facet Ece Avinç
Fatih Doğan
author_sort Ece Avinç
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This research aimed to formulate a robust and valid measurement instrument for evaluating the environmental behavior levels of prospective teachers. The study focused on detailing the analyses conducted on the Environmental Behavior Scale (EBS). Content validity was ascertained through expert assessment, while construct validity investigations were aligned with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Employing both Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), the study involved teacher candidates from a Faculty of Education. EFA findings proposed an 18-item, five-factor model. This model was subsequently cross validated through CFA, exhibiting favorable fit indices. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to unveil relationships among variables, indicating positive cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses to environmental concerns among teacher candidates. The measurement invariance of the SEM model was examined in terms of the gender variable, and it was found that the model did not change. Consequently, EBS emerges as a valuable tool for environmental education, offering insights into variables such as attitude towards behavior, perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, behavioral intention, and actual behavior in teacher candidates.
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spelling doaj-art-6f9d0a193be74838bda2ec6c7ce3fc682025-08-20T01:53:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115112310.1038/s41598-025-01277-8Modeling, development and validation of environmental behavior scale for preservice teachersEce Avinç0Fatih Doğan1Department of Mathematics and Science, Faculty of Education, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart UniversityDepartment of Mathematics and Science, Faculty of Education, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart UniversityAbstract This research aimed to formulate a robust and valid measurement instrument for evaluating the environmental behavior levels of prospective teachers. The study focused on detailing the analyses conducted on the Environmental Behavior Scale (EBS). Content validity was ascertained through expert assessment, while construct validity investigations were aligned with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Employing both Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), the study involved teacher candidates from a Faculty of Education. EFA findings proposed an 18-item, five-factor model. This model was subsequently cross validated through CFA, exhibiting favorable fit indices. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to unveil relationships among variables, indicating positive cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses to environmental concerns among teacher candidates. The measurement invariance of the SEM model was examined in terms of the gender variable, and it was found that the model did not change. Consequently, EBS emerges as a valuable tool for environmental education, offering insights into variables such as attitude towards behavior, perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, behavioral intention, and actual behavior in teacher candidates.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01277-8Environmental behaviorModelScaleValidityRealiability
spellingShingle Ece Avinç
Fatih Doğan
Modeling, development and validation of environmental behavior scale for preservice teachers
Scientific Reports
Environmental behavior
Model
Scale
Validity
Realiability
title Modeling, development and validation of environmental behavior scale for preservice teachers
title_full Modeling, development and validation of environmental behavior scale for preservice teachers
title_fullStr Modeling, development and validation of environmental behavior scale for preservice teachers
title_full_unstemmed Modeling, development and validation of environmental behavior scale for preservice teachers
title_short Modeling, development and validation of environmental behavior scale for preservice teachers
title_sort modeling development and validation of environmental behavior scale for preservice teachers
topic Environmental behavior
Model
Scale
Validity
Realiability
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01277-8
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