PRESCHOOL PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS SCIENCE

Abstract

Aiming at contributing to the literature, this study presents research findings regarding the prospective preschool teachers’ attitudes towards science. Data gathered from 107 prospective teachers from one of the biggest universities in Turkey. The Scientific Attitude Inventory (SAI II) was administered which consists of 40 items divided into six subscales. The SAI II were designed to test individual’s views regarding: the nature of scientific theories and laws, the basis of scientific explanations and what science deals with, how to operate in a scientific manner, what science is and what science is devoted to, the role of science in society and the characteristics of a scientists. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods in SPSS, such as frequencies, mean scores and percentages. The scale mean scores range between 1 and 5. Lower scores indicates positive attitude towards science and higher scores represents more negative attitudes. The overall analysis of the participants’ responses to the items in the questionnaire reveal that the mean value was 2.45, indicating that the group presented a more “positive” position. For example, detailed analysis of the items in questionnaire showed that significant part of the participants (%84.1) did not agree “scientific ideas can be changed” item. Oppositely, %57 of participants stated that “scientific laws have been proven beyond all possible doubt”. These results point out that integration of “what is science” notion to the preschool teacher education programs, either explicit or implicit, is essential.