Gap Analysis Based on the Effect of Effective Educational Methods on Sustainable Development

The aim of this study was to investigate the educational methods effective on sustainable development and to evaluate its current and optimal status.

This descriptive research was of survey-applied type, based on the methods of analyzing the current and optimal situation gap and in the group of mixed studies of exploratory type (qualitative and quantitative). Participants in the quality section included 10 experts and specialists in the education system who were purposefully selected through a sequential snowball sampling method. The statistical population in the quantitative stage consisted of 440 managers, responsible experts and experts of the General Department of Education in Tehran. The sample size was calculated based on Cochran's formula as of 205 people. The sampling procedure was done through stratified random sampling according to the subject's organizational position. The data collection tool in the qualitative part was a semi-structured interview and in the quantitative part was a researcher-made questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis, paired t-test and Wilcoxon tests were used to analyze the data.

The results of the qualitative part of the research indicated that the educational methods affecting sustainable development include 7 components and the difference between the current and optimal situation has been significant and large.

Therefore, in order to move from the current situation to an optimal situation of sustainable development, it is necessary for the education system to give a special importance to the educational methods affecting sustainable development.