Application of Empathy Influence on the Image of Scientist and Scientific Methods within the Scope of Biology Lesson

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of empathy skills on acquiring the steps of the scientific method, teaching the characteristics of scientists and the increase of biology lesson attitude in positive. Research is realized at 2009-2010 academic year, spring term in Anatolian High School. In the study, a total of 61 high school students of two different classes were participated in. Classes were randomly determined as the experimental group and control group. The scientific method steps and the properties of scientists techniques were lectured to the students in the experimental group with the techniques including empathy activities however in the control group traditional methods were used. In this study, pre-test and post-test control group design was used. For data collection, logical thinking test as pre-test, the scientific method steps test as pre-test post-test, scientist features test as pre-test post-test, biology attitude scale test as pre-test post-test and empathy applications test as a post-test was used. In quantitative evaluation, analysis with the Mann-Whitney-U test and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used. The findings obtained from analysis were evaluated with SPSS statistical software. The analysis results were evaluated at the level of 0.05 significance. For qualitative evaluation Lee's historical empathy steps was used. As a result of the analysis, we determined that empathy contributed significantly in teaching activities of the scientific method steps, characteristics of scientists.