ERIC Number: EJ1320782
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2065-1430
EISSN: N/A
Science and Non-Science Majors' Mental Models of Nuclear Power: Does the Program of Study Matter?
Es, Hüseyin; Yenilmez Türkoglu, Ayse
Acta Didactica Napocensia, v14 n2 p231-243 2021
The purpose of this study was to characterize science and non-science majors' mental models of nuclear power plants through their drawings. For this purpose, a total of 27 "Theology" and 26 "Science Education" college students were participated in the study. To collect data, students were first asked to state their decisions about the construction of nuclear power plant in the city they live, and then to think about nuclear power plants in their minds and draw the revived images on a paper. Data were analyzed through content analysis based on the SEE-STEP model. Findings revealed that religious beliefs and/or education may affect college students' reactions to nuclear power plants. That is, while most theology majors approached the construction of nuclear power plants positively, majority of science education majors did not. Theology majors referred mostly to economy in their drawings, while science education majors mostly to environment. Regardless of the program of study, on the other hand, the codes emerged from the drawings were mostly about environment, which was followed by technology, economics and science. Ethics was the least common subject area referred in the drawings of the students from both programs of study.
Descriptors: Majors (Students), Nonmajors, Schemata (Cognition), Freehand Drawing, College Seniors, Theological Education, Science Education, Science and Society, Preservice Teacher Education, Nuclear Energy, Facilities, Religious Factors, Public Colleges, Conservation (Environment), Foreign Countries
Babes-Bolyai University. Kogainiceanu 1, Cluj-Napoca, 400084 Romania. e-mail: submit_adn@yahoo.com; Web site: http://adn.teaching.ro
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: Turkey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A