Teacher Education as an Agent for Sustainability: Validation of an <scp>SDGs</scp> ‐Focused Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior Questionnaire for Pre‐Service Primary Teachers
Jorge Crespo‐Martín, Isaac Corbacho‐Cuello, Aurora Muñoz‐Losa
Abstract
ABSTRACT This study validates the Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior (KAB) Questionnaire, a comprehensive tool designed to evaluate sustainability‐related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among pre‐service primary school teachers, with a specific alignment to five key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The questionnaire, comprising 39 items across three dimensions—economic, environmental, and social—was administered to 229 pre‐service teachers at a Spanish university. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses confirmed its three‐factor structure, with high internal consistency for each dimension (Cronbach's Alpha > 0.80). The findings reveal that while participants demonstrate strong sustainability knowledge and positive attitudes, there is a significant gap between these attitudes and their actual sustainable behaviors, highlighting the well‐documented “knowledge‐action gap.” The KAB Questionnaire provides a robust instrument for evaluating how teacher education programs address sustainability, offering insights that can inform the design of initiatives to promote meaningful action‐oriented learning and engagement with sustainability principles.