South African science teachers' perceptions of the nature of science

Abstract

The paper describes data on South African science teachers' perceptions of the nature of science (NOS) based on responses to a questionnaire and subsequent focus group interviews. One hundred thirty five veteran intermediate and senior phase (grades 4–9) teachers completed the NOS questionnaire in English. The sample is from rural and semi-urban areas of the Transkei in the Eastern Cape province. Focus group interviews clarified the teachers' questionnaire responses to the NOS prompts. The interviews also examined teachers' perception of the relationship of science to society and their beliefs on how scientific knowledge becomes reliable. The interviews concluded with a series of questions about the HIV-AIDS connection as a particular scientific and curricular topic that may promote discussions of the NOS. Despite the fact that the questionnaire was successful in prompting rich discussions of the NOS, few generally valid interpretations could be drawn from the survey data alone.