A qualitative study to explain middle school student's understandings of nature of science

Abstract

This study was conducted with the aim to explain 7th grade middle school students' nature of science understandings by employing qualitative measuring tools of an interview and a questionnaire. In this context, the participants were 17 7th grade students. In order to explain the participants' nature of science understandings, first a nature of science questionnaire to explain their nature of science was conducted. Following, in depth interviews were conducted with the students. The four facets of the students' nature of science understandings were categorized using three dimensions: informed-transitional-naïve and by constantly comparing the data. The results gathered by the aforementioned analysis indicated that most students' nature of science understandings were weak or varying (78%) and only 22% of the students had adequate understandings. In this respect, it is suggested that the direct-reflective methods should be used instead of indirect ones for students to understand the real nature of science.