Survey response data to perceptions of human and natural changes to ecosystems from students of southeast Mississippi

The dataset contains data collected through concept maps and questionnaires pre- and post- an educational program for high school students. Concept maps and questionnaires were developed by the project team to assess differences in student understanding and student perceptions of ecological processes and restoration and monitoring efforts by scientists. Both concept maps and questionnaires were distributed at the same time to high school students on the Mississippi Gulf Coast with schools that participated in the CHANGES program. Data collected include concept map scores, which were scored by the project team using Novak’s scoring for using concept mapping as an assessment tool. Questionnaire data include student answers to statements about natural and manmade changes affecting an estuary or savanna ecosystem in a positive or negative way. Students answered through a 5- point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). Additionally, students listed stewardship actions they could identify pre- and post- CHANGES program. Data were collected from March 2019 through March 2020. The data collected informed an in-house evaluation of program effectiveness.