A Comparative Status Analysis of Elementary and Middle School Students Preference for Science

초ㆍ중학생의 과학선호도 실태 비교 분석

The purpose of this research was to survey and compare the status of science preference of elementary school students with that of middle school students. Preference for science was defined theoretically. According to theoretical model, a questionnaire was developed with piloting and consisted of three parts. First part was for background information, second part, for measurement of science preference and third for measurement of the relevant factors of science preference. The questionnaire was modified for primary school students. In July 2002, the questionnaire was administered to one class per grade of randomly selected 8 elementary and 8 middle schools all over the country and analyzed result of collected 696 elementary school students and 819 middle school students. Middle school students' science preference was low compared with elementary school students, especially in 'emotional response and 'valuational comprehension'. The preference for science became lower especially from 4th to 5th grade and from 8th to 9th grade. The differences of mean science preference were significant by gender. perception of science achievement. and future career choice. The average of science preference relevant factors of middle school students also became lower than elementary students, especially in 'educational factor'. Multiple regression analysis on the science preference showed that important factors were personal ability, the personal traits, rewards in school science and contents of school science, slightly different in elementary and secondary school. The way to promote students' preference for science was suggested on the analysis result.