Middle School Students’ Perceptions about the Scientists

Yıl 2018, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 2, 95 - 117, 01.12.2018

Aykut Emre Bozdoğan , Ümmü Gülsüm Durukan Yasemin Hacıoğlu

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.18.14.5.2

Öz

This study aimed at in-depth examination of middle
school students’ perceptions about the scientists. The study was carried out
with survey model. The data of the study were gathered via “Questionnaire for
Evaluation of Scientists (QES)” and focus group interviews. The data were
analysed quantitatively and the quantitative data were qualitatively supported
with quotations and interviews’ data. . The study group is consisted of 1011
middle school students from different cities in Turkey. According to the studies,
students’ perceptions about the scientists were mostly similar to the results.
1011 middle school students in different grades have similar perceptions but
their image of the scientists’ scores low. The students’ images of a scientist
had positive features such as intelligent and imaginative but they had also
negative images like boring. Students think that a scientist was not very
religious or did not believe in God. The students had positive views when they
evaluated themselves as a scientist. It was observed that the physical features
of the students’ image of scientists were males, in their 30s, with strange
hair style and an ordinary look, and wearing glasses, beard/moustache, and a
lab coat. They thought that the scientists were interested in invention,
research and experiment and worked in a laboratory. As the source of their
images, they stated scientists’ life stories, the internet, course books,
science journals, and films. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

Scientist’s image, Middle school student, Questionnaire for Evaluation of Scientists

Kaynakça

• Ağgül-Yalçın, F. (2012). Investigation of prospective teachers’ image of scientist with respect to some variables. Elementary Education Online, 11(3), 611-628.
• Akcay, B. (2011). Turkish elementary and secondary students’ views about science and scientist. Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, 12(1), 1-11.
• Akinoglu, O., Tatik, R.S., & Baykin, Y. (2015). Pre-service teachers’ metaphorical perceptions towards the concept of scientist. Anthropologist, 19(3), 577-584.
• Barman, C.R. (1999). Completing the study: High school students' views of scientists and science. Science and Children, 36(7), 16-21.
• Bowtell, E. (1996). Educational stereotyping: Children’s perceptions of scientists: 1990’s style. Investigating: Australian Primary and Junior Science Journal, 12 (1), 104- 108.
• Buldu, M. (2006). Young children's perceptions of scientists: a preliminary study. Educational Research, 48(1), 121-132.
• Buluş-Kırıkkaya, E., Bozkurt E., & İşeri, Ş. (2011). TÜBİTAK destekli ilköğretim öğrencileri Bilim Yaz Okulu’nun öğrencileirn bilim insanı imgelerine etkisi. Mediterranean Journal of Educational Research, 5(9), 61-75.
• Camcı-Erdoğan, S. (2013a). Gifted and talented students' images of scientists. Turkish Journal of Giftedness and Education, 3(1), 13-37.
• Camcı-Erdoğan, S. (2013b). Üstün zekâlı kızların bilime yönelik tutumları ve bilim insanı imajları. HAYEF: Journal of Education, 10(1), 125-142.
• Chambers, D.W. (1983). Stereotypic images of the scientist: The draw‐a‐scientist test. Science Education, 67(2), 255-265.
• Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2000). Research in education. London: Routledge Falmer.
• Crowther, D.T., Norman, G.L., & Lederman, J.S. (2005). Understanding the true meaning of nature of science. Science and Children, 43(2), 50-52.
• Erkorkmaz, Z. (2009). İlköğretim 1. kademe öğrencilerinin bilim insanına ilişkin görüşlerinin belirlenmesi [Determining the opinions of the first level elementary students about the scientist]. (Unpublished master thesis). Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
• Farland-Smith, D. (2009). How does culture shape students’ perceptions of scientists? Cross- national comparative study of American and Chinese elementary students. Journal of Elementary Science Education, 21(4), 23-42.
• Finson, K.D., Beaver, J. B., & Cramond, B.L. (1995). Development and field test of a checklist for the Draw-a-Scientist Test. School Science and Mathematics, 95(4), 195-205.
• Finson, K.D. (2002). Drawing a scientist: What we do and do not know after fifty years of drawings. School Science and Mathematics, 102(7), 335-345.
• Finson, K.D., Pedersen, J., & Thomas, J. (2006). Comparing science teaching styles to students' perceptions of scientists. School Science and Mathematics, 106(1), 8-15.
• Fralick, B., Kearn, J., Thompson, S., & Lyons, J. (2009). How middle schoolers draw engineers and scientists. Journal of Science Education & Technology, 18(1), 60-73.
• Fung, Y.Y.H. (2002). A comparative study of primary and secondary school students’ images of scientists. Research in Science & Technological Education, 20(2), 199–213.
• Gonsoulin, W.B. (2001). How do middle school students depict science and scientist. (Doctoral Thesis). Mississippi State University, USA.
• Gormally, C., Brickman, P., Hallar, B., & Armstrong, N. (2009). Effects of inquiry-based learning on students’ science literacy skills and confidence. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 3 (2), Article16. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1182&context=ij-sotl
• Güler, T. & Akman, B. (2006). 6 yaş çocuklarının bilim ve bilim insanı hakkındaki görüşleri [6 Years old childrens’ views on science and scientists]. Hacettepe University Journal of Education, 31, 55-66.
• Hatzinikita, V. (2007). Images of the scientist held by educator in Greece. The International Journal of Learning, 14(7), 145-154.
• Huber, R.A. & Burton, G.M. (1995). What do students think scientists look like? School Science and Mathematics, 95(7), 371-376.
• Jones, M. G., Howe, A., & Rua, M. J. (2000). Gender differences in students' experiences, interests, and attitudes toward science and scientists. Science Education, 84(2), 180-192.
• Kahle, J. B. (1989). Images of scientists: Gender issues in science classrooms. The Key Centre for School Science and Mathematics, 4, 1-9.
• Karaçam, S., Aydın, F., & Digilli, A. (2014). Fen ders kitaplarında sunulan bilim insanlarının basmakalıp bilim insani imaji açısından değerlendirilmesi [Evaluation of scientists represented in science textbooks in terms of stereotype scientist image]. Ondokuz Mayis University Journal of Education Faculty, 33(2), 606-627.
• Kaya, O.N., Doğan, A. & Öcal, E. (2008). Turkish elementary school students’ images of scientists. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 32, 83-100.
• Kibar-Kavak, G. (2008). Öğrencilerin bilime ve bilim insanına yönelik tutumlarını ve imajlarını etkileyen faktörler [Factors affecting the attitudes and perception of the students towards science and scientists]. (Unpublished master thesis). Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey.
• Koren, P. & Bar, V. (2009). Science and It’s Images – Promise and threat: from classic literature to contemporary students’ images of science and “The Scientist”. Interchange, 40(2), 141–163.
• Korkmaz, H. & Kavak, G. (2010). Primary school students’ images of science and scientists. Elementary Education Online, 9(3), 1055-1079.
• Leblebicioglu, G., Metin, D., Yardimci, E., & Cetin, P. S. (2011). The effect of informal and formal interaction between scientists and children at a science camp on their images of scientists. Science Education International, 22(3), 158-174.
• Losh, S. C.,Wilke, R. & Pop, M. (2008). Some methodological issues with “Draw a Scientist Tests” among young children. International Journal of Science Education, 30(6), 773-792.
• McDuffie, T.E.J. (2001). "Scientists-Geeks and Nerds?" dispelling teachers’ stereotypes of scientists. Science and Children, 38(8),16-19. MNE (Ministery of National Education) [Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı], (2013). Fen bilimleri dersi programı, 3.-8. sınıflar [Science course curriculum, 3-8 classes]. Retrieved from http://ttkb.meb.gov.tr/www/guncellenen-ogretim-programlari/icerik/151.
• Medina-Jerez, W., Middleton, K.V., & Orihuela-Rabaza, W. (2011). Using the DAST-C to explore Colombian and Bolivian students’ images of scientists. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 9(3), 657-690.
• Monhardt, R.M. (2003). The image of the scientist through the eyes of Navajo children. Journal of American Indian Education, 42(3), 25-39.
• Moseley, C. & Norris, D. (1999). Pre-service teachers' views of scientists. Science and Children, 37(1), 50-53.
• NAE [National Academy of Engineering] & NRC [National Research Council]. (2009). Engineering in K-12 education understanding the status and improving the prospects. Edt. Katehi, L., Pearson, G. & Feder, M. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
• Newton, D.P. & Newton, L.D. (1992). Young children's perceptions of science and the scientist. International Journal of Science Education, 14(3), 331-348. NGSS [New Generation Science Standards] (2013). Retrieved from http://www.nextgenscience.org
• Nuhoğlu, H. & Afacan, Ö. (2011). İlköğretim öğrencilerinin bilim insanına yönelik düşüncelerinin değerlendirilmesi [Evaluation of the primary school students’ view about scientists]. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Kırşehir Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 12(3). 279-298.
• Ortoli, S. & Witkowski, N. (2006). Arşimet’in hamamı: Bir bilim söylenceleri kitapçığı. [Archimedes' bath: A science of myths]. İstanbul: Yapı Kredi Publishing.
• Öcal, E. (2007). İlköğretim 6, 7 ve 8. sınıf öğrencilerinin bilim insanı hakkındaki imaj ve görüşlerinin belirlenmesi [Identification and description of 6,7,8. secondary school student's scientist image and schema]. (Unpublished master thesis). Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
• Özsoy, S. & Ahi, B. (2014). Images of scientists through the eyes of the children. Necatibey Faculty of Education Electronic Journal of Science & Mathematics Education, 8(1), 204-230
• Parsons, E.C. (1997). Black high school females’ images of the scientist: Expression of culture. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 34 (7), 745-768.
• Rosenthal, D.B. (1993). Images of scientists: A comparison of biology and liberal studies majors. School Science and Mathematics, 93, 212-216.
• Rubin, E., Bar, V. & Cohen, A. (2003). The images of scientists and science among Hebrew- and Arabic-speaking pre-service teachers in Israel. International Journal of Science Education, 25(7), 821-846.
• Schibeci, R. (2006). Student images of scientists: What are they? Do they matter? Teaching Science, 52(2), 12-16 . Schibeci, R. A. (1986). Images of science and scientists and science education. Science Education, 70(2), 139-149 . Schibeci, R.A. & Sorensen, I. (1983). Elementary school children's perceptions of scientists. School Science and Mathematics, 83(1), 14-20.
• She, H.C. (1995). Elementary and middle school students' image of science and scientists related to current science textbooks in Taiwan. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 4(4), 283-294.
• Silver, A. & Rushton B.S. (2008). Primary-school children’s attitudes towards science, engineering and technology and their images of scientists and engineers. Education, 36(1), 51-67. Song, J. & Kim, K. S. (1999). How Korean students see scientists: the images of the scientist. International Journal of Science Education, 21(9), 957-977.
• Symington, D. & Spurling, H. (1990). The Draw-A-Scientist Test: Interpreting the data. Research in Science and Technological Education, 8(1), 75-77.
• Şen-Gümüş, B. (2009). Bilimsel öykülerle fen ve teknoloji eğitiminin öğrencilerin fen tutumlarına ve bilim insanı imajlarına etkisi [The effects of the science and technology education with scientific stories, to the students attitude towards science and their images of scientists]. (Unpublished master thesis). Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey . Thomas, J. & Hairston, R.A. (2003). Adolescent students' images of an environmental scientist: An opportunity for constructivist teaching. Electronic Journal of Science Education, 7(4), 1-25.
• Turgut, H. (2009). Pre-service science teachers’ perceptions about demarcation of science from pseudoscience. Education and Science, 34(154), 50-68.
• Türkmen, H. (2008). Turkish primary students’ perceptions about scientist and what factors affecting the image of the scientists. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education, 4(1), 55-61.
• Ünver, A.O. (2010). Bilim insanlarını algılama: İlköğretim 5. sınıf öğrencileri ile son sınıf öğretmen adaylarının karşılaştırılması [Perceptions of Scientists: A Comparative Study of Fifth Graders and Fourth Year Student Teachers]. Necatibey Faculty of Education, Electronic Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 4(1), 11-28.
• Yontar-Toğrol, A. (2000). Öğrencilerin bilim insanı ile ilgili imgeleri [Student images of scientist]. Education and Science, 25(118), 49- 57.