Scientific Epistemological Research Articles

Exploring academic resilience and scientific epistemological views among undergraduate students

Academic resilience can be defined as the capability of students to solve their problems in times of pressure, anxiety, stress, and other setbacks. It is imperative to have insight into academic resilience as students are involved in various obstacles in the field of education. Scientific epistemological views reflect the individual's beliefs pertaining to science, its qualities, methodologies, and the individual's acquisition process. The study was undertaken to determine the relationship between academic resilience and scientific epistemological views among undergraduate students. A sample of 200 undergraduate students, comprising 72 males and 128 females, was selected through simple random sampling from different faculties of Aligarh Muslim University. Two tools were used for data collection, Academic Resilience Scale (2010) and the Scientific Epistemological Views Scale (2005). For data analysis, Pearson's coefficient of correlation and the t-test were calculated. The results revealed that there exists no relationship between the two variables. In the case of academic resilience, a significant difference was found between the male and female groups, with female students coming out as more resilient than male students. However, in scientific epistemological views, no significant difference between male and female groups was found.

Investigation of the Effects of Pre-Service Teachers' Socio-Economic Statuses and Personality Traits on Their Motivations

Although self-regulated learning (SRL) in education is more often associated with student learning, recently it has been emphasized that teachers should be self-regulated individuals, as well. In this study focusing on motivation, one of the sub-dimensions of SRL, predictive power of socio-economic statuses and personality traits of pre-service teachers on their motivations was determined with hierarchical regression analysis. This study was conducted with survey model, which is one of the quantitative research methods. The study enrolled 712 pre-service teachers studying at various departments of the Faculty of Education in a state university in Ankara, Türkiye. The Big Five Inventory, was used to determine the personality traits of pre-service teachers, while the Socio-economic Status Form was used to determine their socio-economic status. The General Self-Efficacy Scale, 2x2 Achievement Goal Orientations Scale, Success/Failure Attributions Scale, and Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Survey were used to determine the motivation of pre-service teachers. The results of hierarchical regression analysis, which was conducted with the data obtained in the study, showed low-level significant effects of socio-economic status on some sub-dimensions of motivation. However, when personality traits were included in the analysis, it was found out that they have higher level significant effects on all sub-dimensions of motivation. In particular, the findings showed that motivation had a significant effect on self-efficacy and goal orientation sub-dimensions. The findings of the study are likely to provide useful information about the effect of upbringing environments of pre-service teachers, which shape their personality traits and personalities, on their motivations.

The Effect of Argumentation on Seventh Grade Students' Scientific Epistemological Beliefs and 21st Century Skills

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of argumentation over current teaching approach on scientific epistemological beliefs and 21st century skills of seventh grade students. This is a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test control group. The sample of the study was composed of 79 seventh grade students (38 experimental; 41 control group) from two intact classes of an urban middle school instructed with the same teacher. The teaching methods were randomly assigned to the classes. The experimental group treated with argumentation, the control group treated with the current teaching approach without argumentation. As data collection tools; Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Scale and 21st century skills scale were used. Multivariance Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used for data analysis. The results showed that argumentation and the current teaching approach had a similar effect on students’ scientific epistemological beliefs and 21st century skills.

Extending Technology Acceptance Model with Scientific Epistemological and Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs: A Study with Preservice Teachers

The technology acceptance model (TAM) is a widely used framework to investigate factors influencing technology use in education. TAM refers to a person’s technology-related attitudes and beliefs influencing intention to use and actual use of technology and seeks predictors of behaviors whether to accept or reject using technology. There are various external variables extended to TAM to increase the predictivity of the model and the generalizability of findings. However, what is not yet clear is the impact of teacher-related variables such as teaching efficacy and epistemological beliefs on teachers’ technology acceptance and behavioral intention. This study examined 710 preservice teachers’ technology acceptance using an extended-TAM with scientific epistemological and science teaching efficacy beliefs. Data were collected through a self-reported measurement tool. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data. Results revealed that the research model explained 59% of the variance in behavioral intention, and perceived usefulness is the most prominent determinant of behavioral intention. The subdimension of scientific epistemological beliefs, justification, is the strongest determinant in influencing TAM constructs among the external variables (epistemological and science teaching efficacy beliefs). Science teaching efficacy beliefs had small effects on technology acceptance constructs. Recommendations were made based on the findings.

Quantitative Research on Gifted Students’ Scientific Epistemological Beliefs

This study explores the scientific epistemological beliefs of gifted students. It attempts to investigate gender, age and grade level-based differences in scientific epistemological beliefs. The study group comprised 120 gifted students (67 girls, 53 boys). To determine the scientific epistemological beliefs of these students, the Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Survey was employed. The results reveal that while the average scores of fifth and sixth-grade students were close to each other, the highest mean epistemological beliefs score was at the seventh and eighth-grade levels. Thus, there is a positive change in the scientific epistemological beliefs of gifted students who receive more science education. Statistically, the results showed that the difference between the epistemological beliefs scores of the female and male students was not statistically significant.

Flipped Classroom on Fifth Grades’ 21st Century Skills and Scientific Epistemological Beliefs

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of flipped classroom model on fifth grade students' 21st century skills and scientific epistemological beliefs. The sample of the study was consisted of 54 fifth grade students from a rural elementary school in Turkey. Quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test control group was used. As a data collection tool, “Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Scale” and “21st Century Learning Skills Scale” was used. For data analysis, independent t-test and dependent t-test were used. As a result of the study it was found that; at the beginning, there was no significant difference between the experimental and control group students’ pre-test scientific epistemological beliefs. After the implementation, there was no significant difference between the experimental and control group students’ post-test scientific epistemological beliefs mean scores. In addition, at the beginning of the study, there was no significant difference was found between experimental and control group students’ 21st century skills. After the implementation, there was no significant difference was found between experimental and control group students’ 21st century skills after the implementation.

EXPLORING THE EFFECTS ON FIFTH GRADERS’ CONCEPT ACHIEVEMENT AND SCIENTIFIC EPISTEMOLOGICAL BELIEFS: APPLYING THE PREDICTION-OBSERVATION-EXPLANATION INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING MODEL IN SCIENCE EDUCATION

The inquiry-based learning model can facilitate students’ understanding of scientific concepts. Scientific epistemological beliefs (SEBs) are related to students’ beliefs about the nature of the process of knowledge in science education. However, whether the “prediction-observation-explanation” (POE) inquiry-based learning model can facilitate fifth graders’ concept achievement and SEBs in science education has not been extensively studied. This study selected the unit of Light Refraction to explore the effects of POE learning on fifth graders’ science concept achievement and SEBs. The Light Refraction Test and Scientific Epistemological Beliefs measurement were applied to the two groups prior to and following the experiment. The experimental group (N=86) participated in POE inquiry-based learning, whereas the control group (N=88) participated without POE inquiry-based learning. The results revealed a significant difference between the two groups, with the experimental group learners performing better than the control group in the concept achievement. In addition, the results showed better positive effects of POE on experimental group learners’ SEBs in the scales of Source and Certainty. Findings suggested that learners achieved better concept achievements and SEBs with the approach of POE inquiry-based learning, which pointed to certain implications for inquiry-based teaching, as well as in education of future science instructors. Keywords: inquiry-based learning model, light refraction, prediction-observation-explanation, science education, scientific epistemological beliefs

Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Epistemolojik İnançlarına Göre Bilimin Doğasına Yönelik Görüşlerinin İncelenmesi

This study aims to examine the scientific epistemological beliefs of university students and to analyze their views on the nature of science on the basis of these beliefs. A total of 161 university students from a public university participated voluntarily in the study. The Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Survey and The Nature of Science View Scale (NOSVS) were used as the data collection tools. The data analysis revealed that 88.2% of the students hold a traditional conception of science and 11.8% of them have a non-traditional conception of science. Also, the analysis of their nature of science views showed that 49.7% of them have a contemporary, while 50.3% have a transitional view of the nature of science. In addition, it was found that factor and total scores of students' nature of science views have a statically significant difference, depending on their traditional and non-traditional conception of science. This finding can be interpreted as a significant relationship between scientific epistemological beliefs and views about the nature of science.

Saudi Arabian secondary school students’ views of the nature of science and epistemological beliefs: gendered differences

ABSTRACT Background Understanding students’ views of the nature of science (NOS) has become one of the most discussed topics of science education in Saudi Arabia. Insights therein could inform curricular inform, preservice, and inservice teacher education and the national discourse around science in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Purpose This study examined Saudi secondary school students’ views of the NOS and their epistemological beliefs by gender. Sample The convenience sample comprised 592 Saudi male (66%) and female (44%) grade 10–12 students from boys’ and girls’ schools (N = 8) in one major city in the KSA’s Eastern Province. Design and Methods A quantitative research design entailed the administration of two self-report instruments in winter 2018: Scientific Epistemological Views (SEVs) instrument (measured NOS) and the Epistemological Belief Inventory (EBI). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Gendered profiles of Saudi secondary students’ views of the NOS and epistemological beliefs were developed. Female students’ NOS mean scores were significantly higher than males. Male students presented more naive epistemological beliefs than females. All respondents scored highest on the role of Social Negotiation when creating scientific knowledge revealing it as a key element of their scientific epistemological beliefs. All respondents scored highest on Omniscient Authority intimating they believed that scientific knowledge comes from authority. For all respondents, Cultural Impacts was a significant predictor of more sophisticated epistemological beliefs. Conclusions The NOS and epistemological beliefs of Saudi secondary students were affected by gendered differences, religious Islamic teachings, and culture. These insights are important, because Saudi students’ understandings of NOS affect their perceptions of science and how it can become part of their epistemological belief system. Religious beliefs, culture, and gender must be considered when designing Saudi science curricula and preservice and inservice teacher education.

An Investigation of Epistemological Beliefs of Physics Teachers According to Different Variables

Epistemological beliefs adopted by individuals determine their knowledge, learning and teaching orientations. For this reason, the purpose of this research is to study physics teachers’ belief levels, as well as the questions about what effect gender, professional experience, and educational background variables have on these levels. Causal-comparative model was used to study these variables. Participants were 205 physics teachers consisting of 106 women and 99 men who work in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. All of the data was collected with the Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Scale developed by Conley, Pintrich, Vekiri & Harrison (2004). This scale was adapted into Turkish by Özkan (2008). The data was analyzed using parametric tests. Ultimately, findings indicated that physics teachers had sophisticated epistemological beliefs. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference between female and male teachers in terms of beliefs. Educational background variable was found not to have any effect on epistemological beliefs of physics teachers. In regards to professional experience variable, teachers with less experience had more sophisticated epistemological beliefs about the source of knowledge, certainty of knowledge and justification of knowledge.

Middle School Students’ Scientific Epistemological Beliefs, Achievements in Science and Intellectual Risk-Taking

The paper reports about an empirical study investigating the relationship between scientific epistemological beliefs, intellectual risk-taking in science learning and science achievement of middle school students via path analysis. The sample was composed of 2119 middle school students enrolled in public schools. Nearly half of the students (50.9%) were female. ‘Personal Information Form’, ‘Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Scale’, ‘Intellectual Risk-Taking Scale’ and ‘Science Achievement Test’ were used in data collection. During the data analysis of the relationship between scientific epistemological beliefs, intellectual risk-taking and science achievement, Path diagrams and analysis were used. Results of the analyses showed that ‘certainty’, ‘improvement’ and ‘verification’ aspects of scientific epistemological beliefs positively predicted science achievement while the ‘source’ aspect predicted negatively science achievement. Furthermore, scientific epistemological beliefs predicted significantly intellectual risk-taking. Moreover, it was found that intellectual risk-taking levels of the students positively predicted achievements in science. In conclusion, it was seen that there was a causal relationship between scientific epistemological beliefs, intellectual risk-taking and science achievement of middle school students.

Middle School 6th and 7th Graders’ Level of Scientific Epistemological Beliefs

Bilgi nedir? Nasıl oluşturulur? gibi bu tür sorularla ilgilenen felsefe dalı epistemolojidir. Ortaokul öğrencileri açısından bakıldığında ise öğrencilerin bilimsel bilgiye ilişkin görüşlerinin ne olduğu sorusu önem kazanmaktadır. Bu da bilimsel epistemolojik inançlar olarak ifade edilmektedir. Bilimsel epistemolojik inançlar, bilimin ve geçerli-güvenilir bilimsel bilginin ne olduğu, nasıl üretildiği ve nasıl paylaşıldığı gibi konularda bireylerin felsefi anlayışlarını yansıtmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı ortaokul 6 ve 7. sınıf öğrencilerinin Bilimsel Epistemolojik İnançlarını belirlemektir. Muğla İl Merkezindeki iki ortaokulda öğrenim görmekte olan 285 öğrenci araştırmanın örneklem grubunu oluşturmaktadır. Veri toplama aracı olarak "Bilimsel Epistemolojik İnançlar Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında 6 ve 7. sınıf öğrencilerinin hem Bilimsel Epistemolojik İnançlarının hem de Bilimsel Epistemolojik İnançları oluşturan alt boyutlarının cinsiyet, sınıf düzeyi ve 1. dönem fen bilimleri dersi karne notu değişkenlerine göre nasıl farklılık oluşturduğu sınanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgulara göre kız öğrencilerinin erkek öğrencilere göre, 6. sınıf öğrencilerinin ise 7. sınıf öğrencilerine göre Bilimsel Epistemolojik İnançları daha yüksek bulunmuştur.

Analysis of Scientific Epistemological Beliefs and STEM Attitudes of The Gifted Students

The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between STEM attitudes and epistemological beliefs of gifted students. For this purpose, the level of epistemological beliefs and attitudes towards STEM fields has been examined in the study. Also, some examinations have been made in order to find out whether the dimensions of STEM attitude ‘’science, mathematics, engineering-technology, 21st century skills’’ and epistemological belief differ from each other within the dimensions of authority and accuracy, information generation, source of information, reasoning and variance of information. The sample of the study consists of totally 105 gifted students who have attended in two different science and art centers .In this study; descriptive scanning model, which is one of the quantitative research methods, and non-parametric tests have been used for the analysis of the data obtained. As a result of the study, it has been observed that students with superior intelligence have a scientific epistemological belief at an advanced (contemporary) level of information generation, reasoning and variance of information, while they have a traditional epistemological belief in the sub-dimensions of authority-accuracy and source of information, As for the STEM attitudes, it has been found out that they have low averages in the dimensions of math and science.

Saudi Arabian secondary students’ views of the nature of science within Islamic context

ABSTRACT This mixed-methods benchmark study examined Saudi Arabian (SA) Eastern Province secondary students’ understandings of the nature of science (NOS) in the Islamic context. To that end, two instruments, the Scientific Epistemological Views (SEVs) and an open-ended questionnaire about science and scientists were employed. Convenience sampling yielded N = 592 students (66% male, 34% female, Grades 10–12) from 25 science classes at the eight schools in one school division. Descriptive and inferential statistics revealed that, overall, the total mean score for the SEVs instrument was 3.65, neither agree nor disagree. Undeveloped (not fully formed) notions of what constitutes the NOS indicate a lack of scientific literacy. Regarding key results, respondents scored highest (mean = 4.05) on ‘the role of Social Negotiation’. They scored lowest on ‘the Cultural impacts’ subscale (mean = 3.09). Students predominately defined science as ‘useful’ and ‘a way of knowing’ (about 30% each) and scientists as ‘smart people’ (about 47%). Some students aligned science with religion, which resonates with Islam’s view that science and religion are interconnected. It is recommended that stakeholders take advantage of the prevailing neither agree nor disagree position to augment science curricula around what constitutes the nature of science in the Saudi, Islamic context.

PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ SCIENTIFIC EPISTEMOLOGICAL BELIEFS AND SCIENCE TEACHING EFFICACY BELIEFS: A CORRELATIONAL STUDY

The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between pre-service teachers’ scientific epistemological beliefs and their science teaching efficacy beliefs. A correlational research design was used. The sample consisted of 115 level 100 pre-service teachers (73 males and 42 females). The Students Scientific Epistemological Views questionnaire (SSEV) and the Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Inventory (STEBI-B) were used to collect the data. It was found that scientific epistemological views of pre-service teachers were availing as indicated by the overall mean above 3 ( M = 3.58, SD = .49). The dimensions of methodological approach and scientific attitude ( M =3.90, SD = .62) and nature of scientific knowledge ( M = 3.54, SD = .58 were availing. However, the dimension of authority and accuracy of scientific knowledge ( M = 3.23, SD = .68) was less availing. It was also found that pre-service teachers’ science teaching efficacy beliefs were low ( M = 3.3, SD = .38).On the subscales, pre-service teachers’ Personal Science Teaching Efficacy (PSTE) was low ( M = 2.99, SD = .44). However, their Science Teaching Outcome Expectancy (STOE) was high ( M = 3.76, SD = .58). The results indicated that there was a significant positive association between scientific epistemological views and science teaching efficacy beliefs (r = .591, p < .01). Also, the scores of STEBI significantly predicted SSEV scores (R 2 = .42, p = .01). Personal science teaching efficacy (PSTE) did not significantly predict scientific epistemological views ( t = 2.441, p = .016). However, science teaching outcome expectancy (STOE) significantly predicted scientific epistemological views ( t = 8.184, p < .01). Article visualizations:

Examining Science Philosophy Preferences and Scientific Epistemological Beliefs of Physics, Chemistry and Biology Teachers Regarding to Several Variables

Bu araştırmanın amacı, fizik, kimya ve biyoloji öğretmenlerinin tercih ettikleri eğitim felsefelerini, bilimsel epistemolojik inançlarını ve bunlar arasındaki ilişkiyi çeşitli değişkenler açısından incelemektir. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu, devlet okullarında görev yapmakta olan 50 fizik öğretmeni, 51 kimya öğretmeni, 50 biyoloji öğretmeni olmak üzere, 151 fen bilimleri öğretmeni oluşturmaktadır. İlişkisel tarama modeline göre gerçekleştirilen çalışmada verilerin toplanmasında “Felsefi Tercih Değerlendirme Formu” ve “Bilimsel “Epistemolojik İnanç Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen veriler cinsiyet ve branş değişkenleri açısından incelenmiştir. Verilerin analizi için betimsel istatistikler, çok değişkenli varyans analizi (MANOVA) ve korelasyon analizinden yararlanılmıştır. Yapılan analizler sonucunda elde edilen bulgulara göre öğretmenler arasında en fazla tercih edilen eğitim felsefesinin “deneyselcilik” olduğu görülmüştür. Fizik, kimya ve biyoloji öğretmenlerinin eğitim felsefesi tercihleri üzerinde cinsiyet değişkeninin etkisi incelendiğinde, deneyselcilik boyutunda erkek öğretmenler lehine anlamlı farklılık bulunmuştur. Branş değişkeni açısından yapılan analizlerde, öğretmenlerin branşlarının eğitim felsefesi tercihleri üzerinde etkisi olmadığı görülmüştür. Bilimsel Epistemolojik İnanç Ölçeğinden elde edilen bulgular dikkate alındığında ise, öğretmenlerin tüm boyutlarda “gelişmiş” bilimsel epistemolojik inançlara sahip oldukları belirlenmiştir. Öğretmenlerin bilimsel epistemolojik inançları üzerinde cinsiyet değişkeninin etkisinin olmadığı görülmüştür. Branş değişkeni bakımından, öğretmenlerin bilimsel epistemolojik inançlarının tüm boyutları için anlamlı farklılık bulunduğu tespit edilmiştir. Fizik, kimya ve biyoloji öğretmenlerinin eğitim felsefesi tercihleri ile bilimsel epistemolojik inançları arasında ilişki Pearson katsayısı ile araştırılmış ve bu unsurlar arasında ilişki bulunduğu görülmüştür.

SCIENTIFIC EPISTEMOLOGY AND SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE IN SCIENCE

The science curriculum had been designed not only the construct of science knowledge, but also able to use scientific attitude, scientific skills, engage higher order thinking, but also able to construct knowledge to solve problems in social contexts. The epistemological aspects in science curriculum involve belief about knowledge. The reseach was purposely to identify science teachers’ scientific epistemology. Eight primary science teachers' discussion on science activity was examined to determine their scientific epistemological based on Lederman (2007). Secondly, the study examines the source of teachers’ knowledge using Elder (1999) dependent vs. independent endeavour. The result showed that observation and inference was the only one engaged actively while teaching science. Meanwhile, the source of teachers’ knowledge in science emerged from dependent venture such as book, internet and past learning experience.

The Impact of a Research Methods Course on Teacher Candidates’ Epistemological Beliefs

The epistemological beliefs of teachers impact both their in-class practices and the perceptions and beliefs of the students whose learning is the responsibility of teachers. Therefore, this study aims to investigate and discuss the impact of a course entitled “research methods” which is taught in education faculties in Turkey, on the epistemological beliefs of teacher candidates. The study adopted the mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. Forty-three teacher candidates participated in the study. The data for the study were collected through the “Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Scale (SEBs)”, a semi-structured interview form, and another form that included the written opinions of teacher candidates. The findings revealed that the research methods taught to teacher candidates do not have a statistically significant impact on their epistemological beliefs. But the analysis of the semi-structured interviews with teacher candidates and their written comments revealed that the teacher candidates explained the nature of knowledge, its sources, and the way scientists work through the traditional understanding of science.

Investigation of Relationships between Self Efficacy and Scientific Epistemological Beliefs of Students in Physical Education and Sports

Investigation of Relationships between Self Efficacy and Scientific Epistemological Beliefs of Students in Physical Education and Sports

Pre-service Primary School Teachers’ Scientific Epistemological Beliefs and Attitudes toward Science: Is there a Relationship?

The purpose of this study was to examine pre-service primary school teachers’ scientific epistemological beliefs and attitudes toward science. The study also investigated whether there was a relationship between epistemological beliefs and attitudes toward science. Sample of the study consisted of 90 students pursuing their third year in primary teacher education at Giresun University, which is located in northeastern part of Turkey. Data for the study were collected through the use of the Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Scale and the Attitudes toward Science Scale. Means, t-test, and correlation analysis were used to analyze data. Findings showed that these pre-service primary school teachers’ scientific epistemological beliefs differentiated for the dimensions of the scale from relatively naive to sophisticated beliefs. There were no significant differences between male and female pre-service teachers in terms of scientific epistemological beliefs and attitudes toward science. Results also showed a positive significant correlation between the scientific epistemological beliefs and attitudes toward science.