Karen Kerr

1
Childrens attitudes towards science
Karen Kerr Summer ATSE Conference
2006 Resourcing Initial Teacher Education
University of Wales, Newport Thursday 31st
August 2006
2
The UK will need 2.4 million more people to work
in scientific jobs by 2014 Estimate from the
Confederation of British Industry (CBI),BBC news
online, 13/8/06¹
Employers are increasingly looking overseas
for graduates Richard Lambert,
Director-general, CBI, BBC news online, 13/8/06¹
a big problem for the economy Fiona Hyslop,
Scottish National Party (SNP), BBC news online,
28/6/06²
3
The number of entries to A-level examinations in
sciences and mathematics 1985-2006 (source AQA)
Biology Chemistry Physics
Taken from http//www.iop.org/Our_Activities/Scie
nce_Policy/Statistics/file_7581.xls³
4
Sample
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The research tool
Questionnaire

• Closed questions
• Attitudes to school
• Science topics
• Perceived ability
• to do science
• Appreciation of science
• Enjoyment of science

• Open questions
• Attitudes to science

• Like to learn in school
• Like to be when older

6
Findings
What else would you like to learn about in
school?

• babies developing
• electricity
• solar system
• animals

• playing
• Incredible Hulk
• football
• Vikings
• the olden days
• art
• friendship

• how to build
• houses
• fixing things

n 637
7
Do you look forward to science lessons?
n 388
8
Do you like science lessons more than other
lessons?


n 388
9
Do you like doing science tests?
Do you like revising for science tests?
no not sure yes
N.B. Transfer test
n 388
n 388
10
Do you like solving problems to do with science?


n 389
11
Appreciation of science getting a job when you
are older

• Being able to read....70
• n641

2. Being able to use the computer69
n643
3. Being able to do science..67
n634
4. Being able to do sums.66 n636
12
no not sure yes
Would you like to learn more about
keeping healthy?
n644
how to look after our environment?
n465
plants?
n643
the parts of a flower?
n465
13
Do you like coming to school?


No meaningful relationship Morrell and Lederman
(1998)
4
n 643
14
Do you like coming to school?


no not sure yes
4 to 6 year olds
7 to 11 year olds
n 643
15
So

• Girls generally have more positive attitudes
  towards science
• This sample think being able to do science is
  just as important as being able to do other core
  subjects
• Older children (9-11 year olds) generally have
  less positive attitudes to science and school
• HOWEVER, more significantly more 9-11 year olds
  want to learn scientific things in school
• This sample were very clear about what they LIKE
  and DONT LIKE to learn about in science

16
If we are to engage and inspire young people
with science, it is important that we listen to
their hopes and concerns
Sir Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the
British Association for the Advancement of
Science (the BA)
5
17
References

• BBC News (2006) Schools letting down UK science
  online. Available from http//news.bbc.co.uk/go
  /pr/fr/-/1/hi/education/4780017.stm accessed 21
  August 2006.
• 2. BBC News (2006) Decline in student science
  uptake online. Available from
  http//news.bbc.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/scotland/512410
  8.stm accessed 28 August 2006.
• Assessment and Qualification Alliance (AQA)
  (2004) The number of entries to A-level
  examinations in science and mathematics 1985-2004
  online, Institute of Physics. Available from
  http//www.iop.org/Our_Activities/Science_Policy/S
  tatistics/file_7581.xls accessed 22 August
  2006.
• Morrell, P.D and Lederman, N.G. (1998) Students
  attitudes toward school and classroom science
  Are they independent phenomena? School Science
  and Mathematics, 98, 76-82.
• 5. Sir Roland Jackson (2005) Scientists must
  listen to young peoples views, speaking at as
  press release for the British Association for the
  Advancement of Science (the BA) Festival of
  Science. Available from http//www.the-ba.net/the
  -ba/PressOffice/PressReleases/_19May2005.htm
  accessed 23 August 2006.

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Email address
kkerr02_at_qub.ac.uk
19
Research outline
Primary school children
IDEAS UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE CONCEPTS
ATTITUDES TOWARDS SCIENCE
-topics -perceived ability -appreciation -enjoymen
t
Living
Daytime