TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of a science education module on attitudes towards modern biotechnology of secondary school students
AU - Klop, Tanja
AU - Severiens, Sabine E.
AU - Knippels, Marie Christine P.J.
AU - van Mil, Marc H.W.
AU - Ten Dam, Geert T.M.
N1 - Funding Information:
The study described in this article was financially supported by the Dutch Research Organisation (NWO), in particular by the programme Societal and Ethical Aspects of Genomics (MCG-programme).
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - This article evaluated the impact of a four-lesson science module on the attitudes of secondary school students. This science module (on cancer and modern biotechnology) utilises several design principles, related to a social constructivist perspective on learning. The expectation was that the module would help students become more articulate in this particular field. In a quasi-experimental design (experimental-, control groups, and pre- and post-tests), secondary school students' attitudes (N = 365) towards modern biotechnology were measured by a questionnaire. Data were analysed using Chi-square tests. Significant differences were obtained between the control and experimental conditions. Results showed that the science module had a significant effect on attitudes, although predominantly towards a more supportive and not towards a more critical stance. It is discussed that offering a science module of this kind can indeed encourage students to become more aware of modern biotechnology, although promoting a more critical attitude towards modern biotechnology should receive more attention.
AB - This article evaluated the impact of a four-lesson science module on the attitudes of secondary school students. This science module (on cancer and modern biotechnology) utilises several design principles, related to a social constructivist perspective on learning. The expectation was that the module would help students become more articulate in this particular field. In a quasi-experimental design (experimental-, control groups, and pre- and post-tests), secondary school students' attitudes (N = 365) towards modern biotechnology were measured by a questionnaire. Data were analysed using Chi-square tests. Significant differences were obtained between the control and experimental conditions. Results showed that the science module had a significant effect on attitudes, although predominantly towards a more supportive and not towards a more critical stance. It is discussed that offering a science module of this kind can indeed encourage students to become more aware of modern biotechnology, although promoting a more critical attitude towards modern biotechnology should receive more attention.
KW - Attitudes
KW - Attitudes towards biotechnology
KW - Quasi-experimental design
KW - Science education
KW - Scientific literacy
KW - Secondary school
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77952563599&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09500690902943665
DO - 10.1080/09500690902943665
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77952563599
SN - 0950-0693
VL - 32
SP - 1127
EP - 1150
JO - International Journal of Science Education
JF - International Journal of Science Education
IS - 9
ER -