Elementary school students’ perceptions about nature of scientific knowledge and some pseudoscientific ideas

Authors

  • Behiye Bezir Akçay Istanbul University
  • Seda Usta Gezer Istanbul University
  • Burak Kiras Abant İzzet Baysal University

Keywords:

Nature of Scientific Knowledge, Pseudoscience, Elementary School Students, Lifelong Education, Evolution

Abstract

In early childhood, people develop some beliefs that can affect the whole lives. Developing pseudoscientific beliefs can cause differences on child’s nature of scientific knowledge. Giving importance on prevent gaining pseudoscientific knowledge may help qualified lifelong learning abilities. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the elementary school students’ nature of scientific knowledge and views about some common pseudoscientific ideas. Also some variables’ impacts on data collection tool scores were searched, too. The study was conducted on 2014-2015 educational year with 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade elementary school students. In the study, Nature of Scientific Knowledge Scale (NSKS) and eight statements were used to collect data. The aim of these eight statements was to figure out students’ pseudoscientific ideas about evolution and nature of science. SPSS 20.00 programme was used to analyze data. It was found that girls’ total scale scores were found higher than boys’ total scores.  Girls’ amoral, parsimonious, testable and unified sub-dimension scores were also found higher than boys’ scores. 7th grade students showed higher total scale scores than the other grade students. Also, it was seen that 7th grade students have more sophisticated knowledge about evolution than the nature of science features. At the end of the study the findings were discussed according to literature and some suggestions were given.

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Author Biographies

Behiye Bezir Akçay, Istanbul University

She was graduated from Gazi University Biology Department. She was completed her master education in Missouri University in USA and PhD. education in Iowa University in 2007 on the area nature of science. Her interest areas are philosophy of science, nature of science and metacognition. She is working as an Associate Professor Dr. in Istanbul Universty Hasan Ali Yucel Education Faculty.

Seda Usta Gezer, Istanbul University

She had her bachelor degree from Istanbul University Science Faculty Biology Department and master degree from Istanbul University Institute of Science. She has got her PhD. from Marmara University Instute of Educational Sciences. She is working as an Research Assistant Dr. in Istanbul University Hasan Ali Yucel Education Faculty Science Department. Her researc areas are inquiry based learning, science education and teacher training.

Burak Kiras, Abant İzzet Baysal University

He has got his bachelor degree from Istanbul University Hasan Ali Yucel Education Faculty and his master degree from Istanbul University Institute of Educational Sciences. He is working as an Research Assistant. His interest area is science education.

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Published

2016-03-02

How to Cite

Bezir Akçay, B., Usta Gezer, S., & Kiras, B. (2016). Elementary school students’ perceptions about nature of scientific knowledge and some pseudoscientific ideas. Journal of Human Sciences, 13(1), 1208–1221. Retrieved from https://j-humansciences.com/ojs/index.php/IJHS/article/view/3634

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Education

License

Uluslararası İnsan Bilimleri Dergisi ISSN:1303-5134
International Journal of Human Sciences ISSN:2458-9489
 
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