Causes, processes and consequences of “desertification”: Results of a qualitative study about the conceptions of 12- and 13-year-old students in Germany

Abstract

Preconceptions are a crucial factor in the educational learning process. Hence, the investigation of preconceptions is important for learning and teaching in the field of geography. This study examines the preconceptions of 12- and 13-year-old students, regarding the major environmental problem of “desertification.” The students’ preconceptions were collected by conducting half-standardized, problem-centered and guided interviews. These interviews (n = 13) were then evaluated using qualitative content analysis. Results show quite complex preconceptions concerning the causes, the processes, the effects and the measures to counter desertification. Regarding the causes of desertification, three basic preconceptions were identified: water consumption inducing drought, climate change generating high temperatures and wind blowing sand from deserts to adjacent areas. All in all, natural causes for desertification were predominant from the students’ perspective. In conclusion, some conceptions can be classified as almost in line with scientific explanations, while others can be considered as alternative explanations. Based on the results of the study, implications concerning learning and teaching geography are proposed, such as focusing on the anthropogenic causes of desertification.

Keywords:

• empirical study
• qualitative interviews
• desertification
• deserts
• preconceptions

Notes

1. The number in brackets refers to the interview-number so that clear identification is possible without mentioning the name.

2. All students’ statements contained herein are taken (partially shortened) from the revised version, and in a few cases, from the structured statements of the respective interview. The indicated number of paragraph (par.) guarantees comprehensibility. Here it should be noted that the students’ statements merely serve an illustrative purpose whereas the analysis was made methodologically, controlled under the terms of the procedure characterized in section 4.

3. Conducted with the help of comparative analysis, generalization was based not only upon the earlier depicted two interviews, but on 12 of 13 analyzed interviews. One student assumed neither an increase nor decrease of deserts and that is why this interview was not included.

4. The numbers in brackets represent the interview-number, so that one can refer back to the level of individual conception.