Recent research has highlighted the role of science education in reducing beliefs in science-related misinformation and stressed its potential positive impact on decision-making and behavior. This study implemented the Elaboration Likelihood Model to explore how individuals' abilities and motivation interact with the type of processing of…

Describes production of attitude scale assessing beliefs about science and about teaching techniques suitable for elementary school science. Provides data on attitude changes during a one-semester methods course. Copy of scale appended. (AL)

Using an instrument developed by the authors, 60 professors, 30 science and 30 humanities, rated each of 10 values on 12 criteria scales. Results showed significant differences in weightings placed by the two groups on eight values. (PS)

This study reports on the development and validation of the Attitude toward Science in School Assessment (ATSSA). Reports a low correlation between attitude and achievement tests while a moderate correlation between attitude and course grade. (Author/YP)

Analyzes the complexities of the concept of attitude: the origin and history; subcomponents; related concepts including beliefs, opinion, and values; traditional trilogy--cognition, affection, and conation; and some controversies. (YP)

The purpose of this study is to look for empirical support for the distinction between feelings and beliefs in a scientific attitude scale. Results support the distinction, though sampling error due to small sample size is cited as a possibility. (Author/MA)

High school students were administered attitude tests with variations in wording (strong or mild) and stance (positive or negative). Resultant data showed that the positive versus negative item structure influenced student responses more than mild versus strong wording. (MLH)

Examines some of the problems in interpreting data from attitude measures when the dimensionality of the instrument and sources of heterogeneity in the population are ignored. Illustrates this point by describing the development of an instrument designed to measure children's attitude toward science-related activities. (TW)

Students from 84 biology, 113 chemistry, and 41 physics classes drawn from midwestern states completed the Learning Environment Inventory and the Science Attitude Inventory. One out of ten LEI scales predicted attitude scores of biology and chemistry students, and none was found for physics students. (MLH)

Spurred by students who felt conflicted accepting evolution and the tenets of their faiths, yet knowing their faiths supported science and evolution, we began a study to determine the views clergy espouse on issues related to evolution, creationism, science, and religion. The resulting study included structured interviews with eight clergy and a…

Reports results of interviews designed to elicit responses regarding attitudes of junior high students towards science. Among variables identified as important in attitude formation are teacher personality and interrelationships with students, class activities, work involved, material learned, classmates, grades, readings, and tests. (CS)

Studied a group of high school biology, chemistry, and physics classes; concluded that there was no relationship between scientific attitudes and class size, but there was a significant improvement in achievement in smaller groups. (MLH)

Investigated were 286 third-year elementary education students to determine instructor characteristics which most enhanced credibility in courses intended to develop a positive attitude toward teaching science. High credibility characteristics included: reference to practical activities, modeling teaching modes, past teaching experience,…

University students in 1971 were as positive in their attitudes toward science as a 1967 sample. There were no significant differences over time related to age, sex, religious preference, parent's education, father's occupation, academic major, or high school type. Presents data concerning the relationship of attitude toward science and student's…