Research and Teaching: Factors Related to College Students' Understanding of the Nature of Science--Comparison of Science Majors and Nonscience Majors

Autor/inn/en	Partin, Matthew L.; Underwood, Eileen M.; Worch, Eric A.
Titel	Research and Teaching: Factors Related to College Students' Understanding of the Nature of Science--Comparison of Science Majors and Nonscience Majors
Quelle	In: Journal of College Science Teaching, 42 (2013) 6, S.89-99 (11 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0047-231X
Schlagwörter	Scientific Literacy; Science Instruction; Evolution; Undergraduate Students; Biology; Majors (Students); Nonmajors; Knowledge Level; Predictor Variables; Student Attitudes; Parent Background; Educational Attainment; Scientific Concepts; College Science; Religion; Student Surveys; Multiple Regression Analysis; Pretests Posttests; Ohio + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Biologie; Wissensbasis; Prädiktor; Schülerverhalten; Elternhaus; Bildungsabschluss; Bildungsgut; Schülerbefragung
Abstract	To develop a more scientifically literate society, students need to understand the nature of science, which may be affected by controversial topics such as evolution. There are conflicting views among researchers concerning the relationships between understanding evolution, acceptance of evolution, and understanding of the nature of science. Four instruments were administered to undergraduate biology students (majors and nonmajors). As expected, biology majors had a greater knowledge of natural selection, acceptance of evolutionary theory, and understanding of the nature of science than nonmajors. Multiple regression was used to indicate which variables significantly predict students' understanding of the nature of science. Significant predictors for majors included acceptance of evolutionary theory and understanding of natural selection and explained 42.8% of the variance. For nonmajors, in addition to these two variables, attitudes toward biology and parents' level of education explained 24.1% of the variance. Implications for improved education strategies are discussed. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	National Science Teachers Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: http://www.nsta.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10