The Effects of Some Demografical Variables on Secondary School Students’ Images About Scientist / Bazı Demografik Özelliklerin Ortaokul Öğrencilerin Bilim İnsanı İmgeleri Üzerine Etkisi

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine scientist images of secondary school students in terms of some demographic variables. The application was conducted in the spring semester of 2013-2014 academic year. 877 (sixth grade=420, seventh grade=457; male=438, female=439) secondary school students who study at four different secondary schools located in Duzce participated in this study. Draw A Scientist Test (DAST) was applied to determine the scientist images of students. After students completed their drawings, they were asked to explain their drawings about scientist. The data obtained from DAST were coded by using code list developed by Chambers (1983). The stereotypical levels of scientist images of students were determined by counting stereotype indicators in students’ drawings. Analyses were conducted in SPSS 18.0 packet program. One way ANOVA and independent t-test were used to test hypothesis. As a result, it is found that the students having parents with high in-come occupation have higher stereotypical scientist images than their counterparts having parents with low in-come occupation. Likewise it is found that the students having a father with high education level have higher stereotypical scientist images than their counterparts having a father with low education level. On the other hand it is found that there is not significant effect of mothers’ education levels on scientist images of students. So it can be asserted that mother and father’s occupation (in-come level) is the most important factor affecting the scientist images of students, the effects of mother and father education level vary depending on whether justice of in-come is correlated with individuals’ education level.