<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Research on the concept of sense of place (SOP) has become increasingly important in recent years. However, literature is dominated by studies dealing with the concept outside the field of education. Yet its potential for geography and environmental education (GEE) is considerable. The aim of this literature review is to determine how SOP is conceptualised in research, what the focus of the research objectives are, which research methods are used to validate the concept in primary and secondary GEE, and to summarize the main research findings concerning both primary and secondary school students. Fifty relevant studies from two literature databases - Web of Science, and Scopus - were searched and analysed. The results show that students’ SOP is conceptualized predominantly through the sub-concept of place attachment, is examined predominantly through qualitative research methods, and that research has focused on the process of developing and fostering SOP, as well as identifying its potential in specific individuals. Place-based education and environmental education programs are effective in the process of students’ SOP formation. The conceptualization of students’ SOP and its empirical research can contribute to its effective implementation in GEE. This promotes the development of students’ relationship with the environment, which is one of the key aspects in the process of building their geographical and environmental literacy.</p>
</abstract>

Research on the concept of sense of place (SOP) has become increasingly important in recent years. However, literature is dominated by studies dealing with the concept outside the field of education. Yet its potential for geography and environmental education (GEE) is considerable. The aim of this literature review is to determine how SOP is conceptualised in research, what the focus of the research objectives are, which research methods are used to validate the concept in primary and secondary GEE, and to summarize the main research findings concerning both primary and secondary school students. Fifty relevant studies from two literature databases - Web of Science, and Scopus - were searched and analysed. The results show that students’ SOP is conceptualized predominantly through the sub-concept of place attachment, is examined predominantly through qualitative research methods, and that research has focused on the process of developing and fostering SOP, as well as identifying its potential in specific individuals. Place-based education and environmental education programs are effective in the process of students’ SOP formation. The conceptualization of students’ SOP and its empirical research can contribute to its effective implementation in GEE. This promotes the development of students’ relationship with the environment, which is one of the key aspects in the process of building their geographical and environmental literacy.

Sense of place in geography and environmental education: a literature review of empirical research

Department of Social Geography and Regional Development

Technical University of Liberec, Faculty of Science, Humanities and Education

J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Faculty of Science

Department of Phyisical Geography and Geoecology

GeoScape

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Research on the concept of sense of place (SOP) has become increasingly important in recent years. However, literature is dominated by studies dealing with the...

Sense of place in geography and environmental education: a literature review of empirical research

Published Online: Jun 29, 2024

Page range: 37 - 52

Received: Feb 22, 2024

Accepted: May 16, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/geosc-2024-0003

Keywords
Sense of place, Primary and secondary education, Geography education, Environmental education, Literature review

© 2024 Dominik Rubáš et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Sense of place in geography and environmental education: a literature review of empirical research

Published Online: Jun 29, 2024

Page range: 37 - 52

Received: Feb 22, 2024

Accepted: May 16, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/geosc-2024-0003

KeywordsSense of place, Primary and secondary education, Geography education, Environmental education, Literature review

© 2024 Dominik Rubáš et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Sense of place, Primary and secondary education, Geography education, Environmental education, Literature review