Prediction of Middle School Students’ Recycling Behaviors with Machine Learning Algorithms

Recycling waste is essential to mitigate environmental damage caused by human activity. Environmentally responsible behaviors, shaped during early ages, are closely linked to environmental attitudes, as demonstrated by prior research. This study aims to predict middle school students’ recycling beha...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fatma Merve Mustafaoğlu, Fatma Alkan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: ICASE 2025-06-01
Series:Science Education International
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Online Access:https://www.icaseonline.net/journal/index.php/sei/article/view/1279
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Summary:Recycling waste is essential to mitigate environmental damage caused by human activity. Environmentally responsible behaviors, shaped during early ages, are closely linked to environmental attitudes, as demonstrated by prior research. This study aims to predict middle school students’ recycling behaviors using machine learning algorithms. A correlational survey model was employed, involving 574 middle school students in Turkey. Data were collected using the Environmental Attitude Scale, Recycling Knowledge Test, and Plastics Recycling Information Test. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine relationships among environmentalbehavior, environmental emotion, plastics recycling knowledge, and recycling behavior. Results revealed that recycling behavior is positively and significantly predicted by plastics recycling information, environmental behavior, and negatively significant relationship with environmental emotion. These variables emerged as strong and reliable predictors of students’ recycling behaviors. This study highlights the importance of fostering environmental knowledge and emotional engagement to encourage responsible recycling practices among young learners.
ISSN:2077-2327