Unearthing the Layers: Deconstructing Science Attitudes for Better Understanding of Influencing School and Student Factors

• In Event: Roundtable Session 32
  In Roundtable Session: Exploring Attitudes, Beliefs, and Perceptions That Influence School Climate

Abstract

This study investigated selected school and student factors and their influence on students’ attitudes toward science. For better understanding, attitude to science was deconstructed into science confidence, usefulness and students’ perception of teacher attitudes. 518 students participated in the study and data was collected using a questionnaire. Results revealed that students who had certain science hobbies had better attitudes to science; males had higher levels of confidence in the subject matter than females; students who took pure sciences saw the science as more useful than those students who took integrated science; usefulness of subject matter was most strongly related to students’ attitude to science and the greatest predictor of attitudes to science was the hobby of watching scientific documentaries.

Authors

• Ramona Ericka Archer-Bradshaw, Erdiston Teachers' Training College

• Martin Timothy Hall, Charles Sturt University