Abstract
(1) Background: In self-concept research, Likert scales are still relied upon despite the fact that they pose methodological difficulties for research in culturally diverse societies. This calls the validity of the data into question. In the present study, we develop a mixed methods design for culture-sensitive academic self-concept research. We test it in a study about chemistry self-concept with secondary school students; (2) Methods: Interview (N = 43) and questionnaire (N = 116) data were collected; (3) Results: The mixed methods approach allowed connecting self-concept with culturally shaped narratives: in the quantitative data, we found the well-documented gender gap in favor of boys. However, among the students with a Turkish migration background, the girls showed stronger chemistry self-concepts. The interviews suggested that girls with Turkish migration background find it easier to connect their chemistry learning to their personal life than the boys with Turkish migration background; (4) Conclusion: Based on further literature, we hypothesize that these differences might be due to a less masculine conception of science in the Turkish society. The mixed methods approach allows detecting measurement bias, which increases the validity of science self-concept data in culturally diverse contexts.
Highlights
Science self-concept research faces severe measurement difficulties when conducted in culturally diverse groups
How strong are the chemistry self-concepts of students with different cultural backgrounds and gender living in Germany?
In the analysis of the questionnaire data, we made three findings regarding EQ1 (How strong are the chemistry self-concepts of students with different cultural backgrounds and gender living in Germany?): 1
Summary
Science self-concept research faces severe measurement difficulties when conducted in culturally diverse groups. This produces difficulties in the measurement process because we do not know if the items have the same meaning in culturally different groups of students [2] This problem persists in self-concept research since we still lack theoretical and methodological approaches for investigations of self-concept in culturally diverse societies [3]. Instead of relying exclusively on quantitative data, we suggest that a mixed methods approach might enhance the validity of the data This is innovative in academic self-concept research since research in this area relies almost entirely on quantitative data [1] despite methodological difficulties. The investigation of chemistry self-concepts with the developed mixed methods approach serves to explore potentially fruitful paths for further research on self-concept in culturally diverse societies.
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