Design and Initial Validation of a Questionnaire on Prospective Teachers’ Perceptions of the Landscape

Abstract

This research focuses on the design, construction, and validation of a questionnaire that seeks to analyse the perception of the landscape amongst undergraduates studying for a Degree in Primary School Teaching at Salamanca University. The process has involved using both qualitative and quantitative techniques to test the content’s validity and the construct’s reliability and suitability through the participation of a panel of expert judges and a sample of 432 subjects. This has been followed by the introduction of an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the data provided by the cohort that has led to a study of the questionnaire’s core characteristics, a reduction in its size, and the validation of its pertinence.

Landscape Education Two Decades after the European Landscape Convention—A Study with Trainee Teachers

“…This was carried out through a survey with a significant sample of students taking a BA in primary education (more details in the Methodology section). This group is regarded as relevant because first, they will likely be leading landscape education in primary schools, when students first comprehensively come into contact with basic landscape education [19][20][21], so a positive experience is of special importance, and second, because, owing to their age, their whole education has taken place under the umbrella of the ELC.…”

“…The results will be useful to infer scientific knowledge and awareness of landscape among population groups with secondary school studies, and also to establish whether the subjects taught and the methodologies followed efficiently achieve the targets set out in the ELC. Although recent studies have addressed the issue of landscape perception among trainee teachers [20,[22][23][24], this study is different because it explicitly links with the ELC and because it is original in terms of design and sample selection. The results can be used to suggest improvements and point out weaknesses in landscape-related school subjects in primary education.…”