Research Article

Student and School Level Variables related to Elementary School Students' Attitudes towards Science

Volume: 19 Number: 80 February 15, 2019
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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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  2. Arisoy, N. (2007). Examining 8th grade students’ perception of learning environment of science classrooms inrelation to motivational beliefs and attitudes. Unpublished Theses in Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
  3. Azizoglu, N., & Cetin, G. (2009). The effect of learning style on middle schools students’ motivation and attitudes towards science, and the relationships among these variables. Kastamonu Education Journal, 17(1), 171-182.
  4. Beaton, A.E., Mullis, I.V.S., Martin, M.O., Gonzalez, E.J., Kelly, D.L. & Smith, T.A. (1996). Mathematics Achievement in the Middle School Years, Centre for the Study of Testing, Evaluation and Educational Policy. Boston College, Boston.
  5. BouJaoude, S. B. (1992). The relationship between high school students' learning strategies and the change in their misunderstandings during a high school chemistry course. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 29(7), 687-699.
  6. Bozdogan, A. E. & Yalcin, N. (2005). İlköğretim 6., 7. ve 8. sınıf öğrencilerinin fen bilgisi dersindeki fizik konularına karşı tutumları [Attitudes of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students towards physics subjects in science lesson]. Gazi Üniversitesi Kırşehir Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 6(1), 241-247.
  7. Burtless, T. G. (1996). Does money matter? The effect of school resources on student achievement and adult success. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.
  8. Catsambis, S. (1995). Gender, race, ethnicity, and science education in the middle grades. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 32(3), 243-257.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

-

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

February 15, 2019

Submission Date

March 31, 2019

Acceptance Date

-

Published in Issue

Year 2019 Volume: 19 Number: 80

APA
Hacıemınoglu, E. (2019). Student and School Level Variables related to Elementary School Students’ Attitudes towards Science. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 19(80), 59-88. https://izlik.org/JA69MM64SM
AMA
1.Hacıemınoglu E. Student and School Level Variables related to Elementary School Students’ Attitudes towards Science. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research. 2019;19(80):59-88. https://izlik.org/JA69MM64SM
Chicago
Hacıemınoglu, Esme. 2019. “Student and School Level Variables Related to Elementary School Students’ Attitudes towards Science”. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research 19 (80): 59-88. https://izlik.org/JA69MM64SM.
EndNote
Hacıemınoglu E (February 1, 2019) Student and School Level Variables related to Elementary School Students’ Attitudes towards Science. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research 19 80 59–88.
IEEE
[1]E. Hacıemınoglu, “Student and School Level Variables related to Elementary School Students’ Attitudes towards Science”, Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, vol. 19, no. 80, pp. 59–88, Feb. 2019, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA69MM64SM
ISNAD
Hacıemınoglu, Esme. “Student and School Level Variables Related to Elementary School Students’ Attitudes towards Science”. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research 19/80 (February 1, 2019): 59-88. https://izlik.org/JA69MM64SM.
JAMA
1.Hacıemınoglu E. Student and School Level Variables related to Elementary School Students’ Attitudes towards Science. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research. 2019;19:59–88.
MLA
Hacıemınoglu, Esme. “Student and School Level Variables Related to Elementary School Students’ Attitudes towards Science”. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, vol. 19, no. 80, Feb. 2019, pp. 59-88, https://izlik.org/JA69MM64SM.
Vancouver
1.Esme Hacıemınoglu. Student and School Level Variables related to Elementary School Students’ Attitudes towards Science. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research [Internet]. 2019 Feb. 1;19(80):59-88. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA69MM64SM