Attitudes towards Science and Views of Nature of Science among Elementary School Students in Terms of Gender, Cultural Background and Grade Level Variables

Autor/inn/en	Toma, R. B.; Greca, I. M.; Orozco Gómez, M. L.
Titel	Attitudes towards Science and Views of Nature of Science among Elementary School Students in Terms of Gender, Cultural Background and Grade Level Variables
Quelle	In: Research in Science & Technological Education, 37 (2019) 4, S.492-515 (24 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Toma, R. B.) ORCID (Greca, I. M.) ORCID (Orozco Gómez, M. L.)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0263-5143
DOI	10.1080/02635143.2018.1561433
Schlagwörter	Scientific Principles; Student Attitudes; Elementary School Students; Gender Differences; Cultural Differences; Grade 2; Grade 3; Grade 4; Grade 5; Age Differences; Foreign Countries; Scientific Attitudes; Spain; Test of Science Related Attitudes + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Schülerverhalten; Geschlechterkonflikt; Kultureller Unterschied; School year 02; 2. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 02; School year 03; 3. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 03; School year 04; 4. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 04; School year 05; 5. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 05; Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Ausland; Spanien
Abstract	Background: There is a growing interest in investigating attitudes towards science and views of Nature of Science among elementary grade students in terms of gender, cultural backgrounds, and grade level variables. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes toward science and views of Nature of Science among Spanish students, Spanish students of gypsy ethnicity and second-generation Spanish students with east-European heritage, and to determine if their attitudes are related to their views of Nature of Science. Sample: Data for this study was gathered from seven elementary schools in Spain, forming a convenience sample of 149 students enrolled from 2nd to 5th grade. Design and Methods: The Nature of Science Instrument (NOSI) and an adaptation of the Test of Science Related Attitudes scale (TOSRA) were used. Follow-up structured interviews were performed with 15 participants. Results: Regarding gender, boys had better attitudes toward Science than girls but more naïve views of the empirical Nature of Science. In relation to cultural background, second generation Spanish students with east-European heritage reported significantly better attitudes toward Science than Spanish students and Spanish students of gypsy ethnicity. No differences in Nature of Science views were found. Concerning grade level, third graders had more positive attitudes toward Science than fifth and sixth graders and more informed views of the tentative Nature of Science. Finally, no relation between Nature of Science views and attitudes towards Science were identified. Conclusion: This study stress the need to address the steady decline in positive attitude toward Science and to improve students' views of Nature of Science from early elementary grades, and to use gender and culturally inclusive science teaching strategies. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01