Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine associations between Turkish high school students’ perceptions of their science teachers’ interpersonal behaviour and their attitudes towards science. The study is first to use a culturally adapted version of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) in Turkey with a large sample of secondary science classes. The QTI maps teacher-student interpersonal behaviour by means of two relational dimensions, Influence (the degree of teacher control of communication) and Proximity (the degree of teacher cooperation with students). Data on students’ subject-related attitudes were collected with the Test of Science Related Attitudes (TOSRA). A total of 7484 students (grades 9 to 11) from 278 science classes (55 public schools) in thirteen major Turkish cities participated. To answer the research questions, multilevel analyses of variance were conducted with MLN for Windows on the TOSRA scale (inquiry, enjoyment,
leisure interest and career interest) scores. In the analyses, three levels were distinguished: student (individual level), class and teacher. It was founded that mother education level, gender and number of books at home were related with scientific attitudes. As for the dimensions of the QTI, Influence (DS) was connected with only Enjoyment, while Proximity (CO) had a connection with both the Inquiry and Enjoyment scales. School type also emerged as significant variable: students in Anatolian schools reported less Leisure interest in science than students from regular high schools.
leisure interest and career interest) scores. In the analyses, three levels were distinguished: student (individual level), class and teacher. It was founded that mother education level, gender and number of books at home were related with scientific attitudes. As for the dimensions of the QTI, Influence (DS) was connected with only Enjoyment, while Proximity (CO) had a connection with both the Inquiry and Enjoyment scales. School type also emerged as significant variable: students in Anatolian schools reported less Leisure interest in science than students from regular high schools.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages | 346-346 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | 12th Conference of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) - Budapest, Hungary Duration: 28 Aug 2007 → 1 Sept 2007 |
Conference
| Conference | 12th Conference of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) |
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| Country/Territory | Hungary |
| City | Budapest |
| Period | 28/08/07 → 1/09/07 |