Comparison of Preservice Science and Social Studies Teachers' Attitudes Towards Socioscientific Issues

Abstract

In this study, the views and attitudes of pre-service science and social studies teachers towards socioscientific issues were examined. Descriptive research design was used in the study. The quantitative data were collected with the "Attitude Scale towards Socioscientific Issues" and the qualitative data of the research were collected with a questionnaire consisting of 5 open-ended questions. 215 science and 220 social studies teacher candidates participated in the research. While qualitative data were analysed descriptively, SPSS program was used in the analysis of quantitative data. As a result of the research, pre-service teachers did not consider their knowledge of sociological issues sufficient and that there were deficiencies in the education system. As a result of the analyses, a significant difference was uncovered in favour of science teacher candidates in the worry sub-dimension related to socioscientific issues and it was determined that the worry level of science teacher candidates was higher than social teacher teachers.