ERIC Number: EJ1027323
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0300-4279
EISSN: N/A
Development and Validation of Nature of Science Instrument for Elementary School Students
Hacieminoglu, Esme; Yilmaz-Tüzün, Özgül; Ertepinar, Hamide
Education 3-13, v42 n3 p258-283 2014
The purposes of this study were to develop and validate an instrument for assessing elementary students' nature of science (NOS) views and to explain the elementary school students' NOS views, in terms of varying grade levels and gender. The sample included 782 students enrolled in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Exploratory factor analysis factor structures and confirmatory factor analysis fit indices confirmed the existence of the hypothesised four dimensions in the structure of the nature of science instrument (NOSI). These dimensions and associated Cronbach a reliabilities of scores were observation and inferences (0.74), tentative NOS (0.76), imagination and creativity (0.80), and empirical NOS (0.63). Descriptive analyses revealed that the most favourable NOS views were obtained for the empirical nature of scientific knowledge. The students were uncertain about NOS views related to tentative NOS and imagination and creativity. The least favourable NOS views were obtained for observation and inferences.
Descriptors: Elementary School Students, Scientific Principles, Test Construction, Program Validation, Psychometrics, Student Attitudes, Attitude Measures, Scientific Attitudes, Gender Differences, Cohort Analysis, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Factor Analysis, Factor Structure, Item Analysis, Foreign Countries, Questionnaires, Multivariate Analysis
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Turkey (Ankara)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A