There are a small number of research studies relating to pupils attitudes toward biolog y. In addition to the overall level of attitudes, the existing papers are focused mainly on the influence of gender and to a lesser extent on the influence of age (class) on attitudes towards biolog y. In this contribution attention is paid to the two above-mentioned variables as well as the influence of lower secondary pupils´ favourite subject on the level of their attitudes towards biolog y. The sample consisted of 496 pupils from six Czech lower secondary schools and represented all classes at lower secondary level. The ratio of boys and girl was approximately the same. More pupils chose a non-science subject as their favourite subject. The measurement tool was a questionnaire with 25 Likert-type items. By applying a factor analysis, items were sorted into three dimensions: aids and the importance of biolog y, the difficulty of biolog y, and interest in biolog y. An analysis of variance and a multivariate analysis of variance were used to determine differences among groups of categorical variables. It was found that pupils have a relatively positive attitude towards biolog y. Girls, 6th grade pupils and pupils whose favourite subject is a science had more positive attitudes. In conclusion new directions of investigation are suggested.
The motivation of students toward learning is the important part of educational process. Main aim of the study is to realize psychometric validation of the Slovak version AMS – HS28 (Academic Motivation Scale – High School version) questionnaire, which was developed by Vallerand et al. (1992). This research tool contained seven scales, three of them were focused on intrinsic motivation, three of them on extrinsic motivation and one was focused on amotivation. The sample size was created by 201 high school students. The statistical analysis included the determination of internal consistency of questionnaire through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and also confirmatory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a seven-factor theoretical model and values of alpha coefficient showed on the internal consistency of whole questionnaire and also of all factors.
SK
Motivácia žiakov k učeniu je významnou súčasťou edukačného procesu. Hlavným cieľom štúdie je realizovať psychometrické overenie slovenskej verzie dotazníku AMS – HS28 (Academic Motivation Scale – High School version), ktorá bola navrhnutá autormi Vallerand et al. (1992). Výskumný nástroj obsahoval sedem škál, tri boli zamerané na vonkajšiu motiváciu, tri na vnútornú a jedna na amotiváciu. Výskumného šetrenia sa zúčastnilo 201 žiakov stredných škôl. Štatistické spracovanie zahrňovalo stanovenie vnútornej konzistencie dotazníka prostredníctvom koeficientu Cronbachovo alfa, a ďalej konfirmačnú faktorovú analýzu. Konfirmačná faktorová analýza potvrdila sedemfaktorový teoretický model a hodnoty koeficientu alfa poukázali na vnútornú konzistenciu tak celého dotazníka, ako aj jednotlivých faktorov.
There are a small number of research studies investigating lower secondary school pupils´ attitudes toward chemistry. Existing studies focus mainly on the influence of gender on the attitudes toward chemistry. In this paper we present an investigation of the influence of gender, grade and, class and favourite subject and also an overall index of attitudes toward chemistry. The sample consisted of 379 pupils from eight lower secondary schools. The number of boys and girls was approximately similar; there were more pupils from the 8th grade and 102 pupils with chemistry as favourite subject. The measurement tool was a questionnaire with 25 Likert type items. After applying factor analysis, the items were distributed into four dimensions: The interest in chemistry, The relevance of chemistry, The future life and chemistry and The chemical experiments. The independent two-sample t-test was used for determining the diff erences among groups of categorical variables. A significant diff erence was found only in the dimension favourite subject. Pupils with chemistry as favourite subject achieved more positive attitudes. Girls achieved higher score in comparison with boys. The pupils from both grades achieved almost similar scores. Possibilities of further investigations are suggested in the conclusion.
Wrong ideas of pupils about animals have been the focus on many research papers. This study concentrates on investigating of basic school pupils’ wrong ideas. The age of the pupils was from 10 to 16. The research tool included 30 open-ended and multiple choice questions, one question was pictorial. The total number of 719 questionnaires from 7 Slovakian basic schools was included in the analyses. The items were divided into five categories, namely: 1. Identification of birds; 2. Reproduction of birds; 3. Food of birds; 4. Birds senses; 5. Migration of birds. The study is focused on finding differences in results of pupils in different age groups. The large amount of wrong ideas was found in all age groups and categories.
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