Prospective Biology Teachers’ View towards Theory of Evolution: A Case Study at Islamic University in Indonesia

Abstract

This study was to investigate prospective biology teachers' views towards the theory of evolution at Islamic university. This study was concerned to investigate the quality of the instruments, the profile of literacy, attitudes, and religiosity of PBTs-IU, and the relationship between literacy and attitude towards the theory of evolution with religiosity. An explanatory mixed method was conducted by using a quantitative survey and in-depth interviews. A total of 153 (16 males and 137 females) from 185 prospective biology teachers at Islamic University (PBTs-IU) participated in filling out the questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha tests have been conducted to examine the quality of the instrument. PBTs-IU profiles were analyzed by descriptive statistical test, and a correlation test was used to determine the relationship between variables. Furthermore, triangulation was chosen to analyze the results of the interviews. The results of this study showed that the instruments used are valid and reliable, the profile of literacy, attitudes, and religiosity of PBTs-IU was high level, and there was a positive and significant relationship at the 0.01 and 0.05 levels between literacy and religiosity and attitudes and religiosity. These findings concluded that PBTs-IU have good knowledge of the theory of evolution, and PBTs-IU also have strong religious beliefs.