This study developed an empirically based questionnaire to monitor young learners' conceptions of nature of science (NOS). The questionnaire, entitled Students' Ideas about Nature of Science (SINOS), measured views on theory-ladenness, use of creativity and imagination, tentativeness of scientific knowledge, durability of scientific knowledge,…

Pupils' expectation-related errors oppose the development of an appropriate scientific attitude towards empirical evidence and the learning of accepted science content, representing a hitherto neglected area of research in science education. In spite of these apparent drawbacks, a pedagogy is described that "encourages" pupils to allow their…

The purpose of this investigation was to examine, from a cross-cultural perspective, students' epistemological patterns of reasoning about socioscientific issues (SSI), and to identify potential interactions of cultural and scientific identity. Mediating factors associated with students' argumentation and discourse about SSI, as well as the…

The purpose of this article is to introduce a definition of science that may be useful as an alternative to those that are typically found in the literature, and to present research indicating its potential effectiveness. (PR)

Data from questionnaire responses (N=207) are presented which identify those characteristics of science supervisors perceived as most creditible by elementary school teachers and those expected to influence positively the attitudes of teachers towards science. (CS)

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)