Focusing on Science Fair Participation in Shanghai: From Perspectives of Students' Family and School

• In Event: Poster Session 4
  In Poster Session: Science Teaching and Learning SIG Poster Session

Abstract

Rarely have research showed the influence of students’ participation and engagement in science fairs in China. We focused on two main factors, i.e., family and school education, to test the differences between science fair participating students and their peers who did not have such experiences. A total of 1,075 high-school students in Shanghai participated in a survey. Also, qualitative interview data were collected from 21 ISEF finalists. Both quantitative and qualitative result revealed that family background had no significant effects on their participation, but parents’ educational opinions and parents-children communications were important. Also, achievement scores of science fair students were significantly lower than their peers. Results and implications are discussed.

Authors

• Minyu Wu, East China Normal University

• Haijun Guo, East China Normal University

• Chao Yu, East China Normal UniversityChina

• Huan Liu, East China Normal University

• Beirong Lu, East China Normal University

• Lijia Lin, East China Normal University