ERIC Number: EJ1475452
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 33
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2147-611X
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Exploring Secondary School Students' Attitudes toward Socio-Scientific Issues with a Focus on Climate Change Attitudes
International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, v13 n2 p407-438 2025
This quantitative study examined Lebanese secondary school students' attitudes toward socio-scientific issues (SSIs), focusing on climate change as a representative topic due to its social, economic, and political complexities. A sample of 130 students from grades 10 to 12 in Lebanese private schools completed the Attitudes Toward Socio-scientific Issues Scale (ATSIS) and a subset of the Attitudes Toward Climate Change and Science Instrument (ACSI). Exploratory factor analysis identified four components -- "Interest in SSI" (curiosity, enthusiasm, engagement), "Usefulness of SSI" (relevance), "Liking of SSI" (enjoyment), and "Anxiety Towards SSI" (apprehensions) -- highlighting the multifaceted nature of students' attitudes toward SSIs. The findings reveal that while students acknowledge the importance of SSIs, their interest and enjoyment levels are moderate, and they report low anxiety, suggesting confidence in tackling these issues. Notably, female students showed greater interest and perceived usefulness in SSIs than male students, although no significant gender differences emerged in enjoyment or anxiety. Despite a high level of concern for climate change, a gap remains between awareness and climate-positive behaviors. This study underscores the need for practical, hands-on educational strategies to bridge this gap, and it recommends further exploration of gender-specific factors and longitudinal studies to track changes in attitudes over time.
Descriptors: Secondary School Students, Student Attitudes, Social Problems, Climate, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, Student Interests, Relevance (Education), Psychological Patterns, Anxiety, Foreign Countries, Conservation (Environment)
International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology. Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Kelesoglu Education Faculty, Meram, Konya, 42090, Turkey. e-mail: ijermst@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.ijemst.net/index.php/ijemst/index
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education; Grade 10; High Schools; Grade 11; Grade 12
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Lebanon
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A