Abstract:

This study is a meta-synthesis study aiming to evaluate the studies on sustainability in the field of early childhood education based on their various characteristics. In the research, 51 studies published in the databases of ERIC, Dergipark, and WoS (Web of Science) on the concept of sustainability in the field of early childhood education between 2017-2022 were examined. For the studies to be included in the research, the following criteria were adopted: being conducted in the field of early childhood education and including the phrases of “Sürdürülebilirlik’, "Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma’’, “Erken Çocukluk Eğitimi için Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma”, “Erken Çocukluk Eğitimi ve Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma and "Sustainable Development", "Sustainable Development for Early Childhood Education". The findings of the research were presented under certain themes using the meta-synthesis research method. As a result of the analysis of the data, it was determined that although the studies had increased over the years, they decreased during the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the whole world and were not yet sufficient, the studies were generally focused on the qualitative research method, and the findings were presented under certain themes. In the studies, it was seen that mostly the environmental dimension or all dimensions of sustainability were aimed to be included together. When the concepts in the results of the research were examined, it was found that all dimensions of sustainability, the development of sustainability, and the concepts related to the environment were generally included.

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