Students’ Perception of the Physical and Psychosocial Science Laboratory Environment in Malaysia: Comparison across Subject and School Location

Abstract

This paper reports a survey which was conducted in order to determine students’ perception of physical and psychosocial science laboratory learning environment in secondary schools in the state of Selangor and it differences based on location and subjects. Students’ perception on science laboratory learning environment was measured by using Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (SLEI) and the suitability of physical aspects were measured using Physical Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (PSLEI). Analysis of findings reveals that students demonstrate positive attitudes in all SLEI scales, with an exception in open-ended scale. In terms of physical aspects, students rate the lighting and space as having high level of fitness while furniture and equipment, technology, air quality and safety aspects were rated as moderate. The findings also showed that there was no significant difference in perspective about the suitability of the physical environment and psychosocial environment based on location. However, there are significant differences in the physical and psychosocial environment based on subject among students