The Impact of Argumentation-Based Environmental Education on the Environmental Literacy of Pre-service Science Teachers

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of argumentation-based environmental education on the development of environmental literacy among pre-service science teachers (PSTs) using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Method: A total of 55 PSTs were divided into experimental (n=28) and comparison (n=27) groups. Over a seven-week period, the experimental group received scenario-based argumentation instruction on environmental issues, while the comparison group followed a traditional instructional approach. Quantitative data were collected using the “Environmental Literacy Scale”, and qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. Findings: Independent samples t-tests revealed that the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher gains in environmental knowledge (t(53)=4.86, p<0.001), environmental attitude (t(53)=2.97, p< 0.01), and environmental use (t(53)=2.85, p< 0.01) compared to the comparison group. Furthermore, qualitative findings supported the statistical results, indicating that argumentation-based instruction enhanced PSTs’ critical thinking, motivation, and ability to connect scientific concepts with real-world environmental issues. Conclusion: These findings suggest that argumentation-based environmental education is an effective approach for fostering environmental literacy in science teacher education programs.