Student and School Level Variables related to Elementary School Students' Attitudes towards Science
Abstract
Purpose: In the literature, there are
lots of quantitative studies regarding students’ attitudes, and results of the
studies revealed that students have negative attitudes towards science.
Therefore, it is necessary to study the factors that predict the attitudes of
the students towards science taking into account the factors at both the school
and the student level. The purpose of this study was to investigate what
school- and student-level factors are associated with student’ attitudes towards
science.
Research Methods: The overall design of this study is mainly a
cross-sectional survey and correlational. The convenience sampling method was
used in this study and 2975 elementary students in different schools and cities
of Turkey constituted the sample of this study. The Test of Science Related
Attitude, Learning Approach Questionnaire, Achievement Motivation
Questionnaire, School Background Questionnaire were used as data collection
tools. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) was selected as a modeling technique
for data analyses.
Findings: This study provides a general
overview about students’ attitudes towards science. The quality of school’s
educational resources, learning and motivational factors, factors related to
student feelings and outside activities, and some student characteristics
significantly contributed to the students’ attitudes towards science.
Implications for Research and Practice: Enriching science lessons with materials,
increasing students’ curiosity, making them learn by discovering and making
them do experiments have potentials to contribute students’ attitudes, and
experimental research can be used to explore these effects. In order to examine the reasons why students
like science or not in detail, qualitative studies should also be conducted.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
-
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
February 15, 2019
Submission Date
March 31, 2019
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2019 Volume: 19 Number: 80