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ERIC Number: EJ1436496
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9266
EISSN: EISSN-2157-6009
Elementary School Students' Interests and Attitudes towards Biology and Physics
Radu Bogdan Toma
Journal of Biological Education, v58 n4 p972-983 2024
Despite improvements in female science enrolment, the gender gap remains in some disciplines. This study examines whether elementary school students (N = 1012, third to sixth graders) display gender-stereotypical interest in learning biology and physics content and how this affects their attitudes towards school science. K-means cluster analysis revealed four interest profiles that resemble career enrolment patterns, with slightly more girls in profiles of high interest in biology over physics (biology interest) and low interest in both disciplines (disinterested), and more boys in high interest in physics over biology (physics interest) and high interest in both disciplines (interested). Students in the interested profile had more positive attitudes towards school science than those in the other profiles. These findings suggest gender segregation in science may be shaped before students make career decisions, calling for attitude-based, gender-inclusive educational interventions from elementary grades.
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Early Childhood Education; Grade 3; Primary Education; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades; Grade 5; Middle Schools; Grade 6
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Spain
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A