Investigation of environmental motivation gained by environmental education in sports science faculty students: a 10-week controlled study

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of environmental education given about natural habitats on the environmental motivation of sports sciences faculty students. In the 2023-2024 academic year, 116 volunteer students (64 male, 52 female) enrolled in the volunteering studies and field experience course at Kırıkkale University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, participated in the study. The “Motivation Scale for Environmental Motivation” developed by Sakarya (2010) was used to collect the data. During the research process, a 10-week theoretical and practical training was given. Pre-test and post-test data on gender, socio-economic status, and anthropometric characteristics of the students were obtained. The results of the analysis show that the environmental motivation of individuals who received environmental education within the scope of volunteering activities and field experience courses increased significantly. Both male and female participants showed significant improvements in the sub-dimensions of environmental motivation. In conclusion, environmental education increases individuals' environmental sensitivity and encourages the sustainable use of natural resources. These findings reveal the effectiveness of education about our environment, nature, and living spaces in developing motivation towards the environment.