A Cross‐domain Analysis of Change in Students’ Attitudes toward Science and Attitudes about the Utility of Science

Abstract

Cross‐domain analysis was used to examine changes in two attitudinal dimensions: students’ attitudes towards science and attitudes about the utility of science over the middle school and high school years. A sample of 444 students was selected from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth. The results show that the overall trend for students’ attitudes about the utility of science is positive; however, attitudes towards science decline over the middle school and high school years. Important time‐varying predictors of both attitudes include science self‐concept, peer attitudes, teacher encouragement of science, and, to a lesser extent, student participation in science activities.