Predictive Relationship between Physical and Psychosocial Aspects of Science Laboratory Learning Environment among Secondary School Students in Malaysia

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of science laboratory learning regarding the physical and psychosocial aspects. Students’ perception on psychosocial aspects were measured using Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (SLEI) while perception on physical aspects was measured using Physical Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (PSLEI). The participants of this study were 800 form four students from 100 secondary schools in Selangor, Malaysia. Analysis of findings revealed that students demonstrated positive attitudes towards the psychosocial environment and moderate level of suitability towards the physical environment. In addition, results of the multiple regression analysis show that there existed significant contributions of physical aspects on psychosocial aspects of the science laboratory learning environment. These results provide valuable feedback to institutions and to educators in setting their learning environment.