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ERIC Number: ED534101
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 130
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-1249-5575-9
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Community College Students' Attitudes toward Postsecondary Science Education
Foster, Clint
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Auburn University
Students in the United States are avoiding taking the higher level science courses in secondary and postsecondary academic institutions (Ball, 2000; Braund & Reiss, 2006; Lee & Frank, 1990). There are many careers that do not require students to take those higher level science courses; therefore, students avoid registering for those classes (Madigan, 1997). Many students are pursing science-related degrees and/or certification from community colleges; however, they lack the academic foundations to succeed in science. The purpose of this study was to identify community college students' attitudes and perceptions toward postsecondary science education and the relationship of their attitudes and perceptions toward their academic achievement in postsecondary science. This study examined community college students that were registered in community college science course. Community college students were examined by answering 47 questions on the instrument, "Attitudes Toward Science/ Learning Science". The instrument was composed of thirty-eight Likert items, eight demographic items, and one closed-ended item. The study investigated the relationship of community college students' attitudes toward their intended academic major, ethnicity, gender and academic achievement. A 6x5x2 Factorial ANOVA revealed that no significant relationships existed between community college students' intended major and their attitudes toward science education, F(5, 158) = 0.646, p = 0.665. The results of the 6x5x2 Factorial ANOVA revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between the community college students' ethnicity and attitude toward science, F(4, 158) = 1.835, p = 0.125. The results of 6x5x2 Factorial ANOVA revealed that no statistically significant differences existed between the community college students' gender and attitude toward science, F(1, 158) = 0.203, p = 0.653. The Pearson's R Coefficient provided results that indicated that there were no statistically significant relationships between community college students' academic achievement (GPA) and their attitudes toward science education, R = -0.065, p = 0.362. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A