Investigation of Negative Attitudes in Vocational Education: Firefighting and Emergency Disaster Management

This study aims to examine the negative attitudes and behaviors of students enrolled in Firefighting and Emergency Disaster Management (EDM) programmes in Turkey when faced with challenges. The research seeks to understand the causes of these negative attitudes, evaluate their impacts, and develop solutions. The study employed a quantitative research method and general survey model. Participants were administered the "Negative Attitude Towards Problems Scale" (NATPS) developed by Akyay (2016). The research involved 308 students from seven different universities in Turkey during the 2024–2025 academic year. Data were collected through an online form and statistically analysed using the Jamovi software package. The research findings indicate that certain variables significantly influence negative attitudes. These variables can be summarised as follows: The effect of gender: Female students' negative attitude scores were found to be significantly higher than those of male students. Programme type: Students enrolled in the EDM programme scored higher in negative attitudes compared to those in the firefighting programme. Receiving psychological support: Students who had previously received psychological support exhibited more negative attitudes than those who had not. Perception of problems: 55.1% of the participants tended to perceive problems as larger than they actually were, which negatively impacted their problemsolving abilities. To reduce negative attitudes, it is recommended to include training programmes that develop problem-solving skills and to strengthen psychosocial support mechanisms. Furthermore, counseling services and applied group activities should be expanded to enhance students’ sense of professional competence and facilitate their adaptation to teamwork.