Middle School Students’ Perceptions about the Scientists

Authors : Aykut Emre BOZDOĞAN, Ümmü Gülsüm DURUKAN, Yasemin HACIOĞLU

Pages : 95-117

Doi:10.17275/per.18.14.5.2

View : 18 | Download : 12

Publication Date : 2018-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aimed at in-depth examination of middle school students’ perceptions about the scientists. The study was carried out with survey model. The data of the study were gathered via “Questionnaire for Evaluation of Scientists insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(QES);” and focus group interviews. The data were analysed quantitatively and the quantitative data were qualitatively supported with quotations and interviews’ data. . The study group is consisted of 1011 middle school students from different cities in Turkey. According to the studies, students’ perceptions about the scientists were mostly similar to the results. 1011 middle school students in different grades have similar perceptions but their image of the scientists’ scores low. The students’ images of a scientist had positive features such as intelligent and imaginative but they had also negative images like boring. Students think that a scientist was not very religious or did not believe in God. The students had positive views when they evaluated themselves as a scientist. It was observed that the physical features of the students’ image of scientists were males, in their 30s, with strange hair style and an ordinary look, and wearing glasses, beard/moustache, and a lab coat. They thought that the scientists were interested in invention, research and experiment and worked in a laboratory. As the source of their images, they stated scientists’ life stories, the internet, course books, science journals, and films. 
Keywords : Scientists image, Middle school student, Questionnaire for Evaluation of Scientists