ERIC Number: EJ1037306
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Mar
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-9120
EISSN: N/A
An Astronomical Survey Conducted in Belgium
Nazé, Yaël; Fantaine, Sébastien
Physics Education, v49 n2 p151-163 Mar 2014
This paper presents the results of the first survey conducted in Belgium about the interest in and knowledge of astronomy. Two samples were studied, the public at large (667 questionnaires) and students (2589 questionnaires), but the results are generally similar in both samples. We evaluated people's interest, main information source and attitudes towards astronomy, as well as their supposed and actual knowledge of the subject. The main conclusion is that, despite poor self-confidence, people do know the basic astronomical concepts. However, that knowledge is not deeply rooted, as reasoning questions show widespread misconceptions and/or misunderstandings.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Surveys, Astronomy, Knowledge Level, Questionnaires, Interests, Information Sources, Attitude Measures, Self Esteem, Scientific Concepts, Misconceptions, Adults, Individual Characteristics, Educational Attainment, Ecology, College Students, Interviews
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Belgium
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A