Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education (한국과학교육학회지)

The Korean Association for Science Education (한국과학교육학회)
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Assessment type and gender differences in science achievement

평가 방법에 따른 과학 성취도에서의 성 차이

  • Published : 2003.06.30
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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences of science achievement between female- and male students in different assessment types, expecting the reconsideration of their scientific ability. to accomplish this purpose, the school science achievement score of 1,487 female- and male students in 2000 were analyzed from the perspectives of assessment methods and gender differences, achievement level and gender differences, and gender characteristics in correlation between each assessment type and total science score. The science achievement score in this study includes mi-term and final paper-and-pencil test in two semesters and performance assessment. The results are as follows. First, in the total science achievement score, whereas female students achieved significantly better than male counterparts in the 7th grade, there was no significant difference between two genders in the 8th and 9th grades. Second, as for the close-ended items, all students, regardless of their gender and grade, showed no significant difference. As for the open-ended items, whereas female students achieved significantly better than male counterparts in the 7th grade, there was no significant difference between gender in the 8th and 9th grades. As for the performance assessment, all female students, regardless of their achievement level, achieved significant better than male counterparts, which is very noteworthy. Third, in the uppermost achievement level, there was no significant difference not only in close- and open ended items but also in performance assessment. Fourth, male students' correlation between performance assessment and total science score was relatively higher than female students'. The result of this study, that female students did significantly better than male students in performance assessment, is interesting in that performance assessment is widely accepted as more reliable and valid method in measuring students' various ability than traditional paper-and-pencil test.

이 연구에서는 평가 방법에 따라 여학생과 남학생의 과학 성취도가 각각 어떤 차이를 보이는지 파악함으로써 여학생들과 남학생들의 과학 성취 능력에 대해 올바르게 인식하는 데 도움을 주고자 한다. 이를 위해 서울 소재 중학교 전학년 학생 1,487명의 2000년 과학 성적을 분석하여 평가 방법에 따른 성 차이 경향, 성취 수준별 평가 방법에 따른 성 차이 경향, 성별 평가 방법 사이의 상관 관계등을 알아보았다. 이 학교의 과학 성적에는 지필 검사 위주의 1, 2학기 중간과 기말 고사 및 수행 평가가 포함되었다. 분석 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 전체 과학 성취도에 있어 7학년은 여학생이 남학생보다 유의미하게 높은 결과를 나타냈으나. 8, 9학년은 의미 있는 성 차이를 보이지 않았다. 둘째, 객관식 문항의 경우 7, 8, 9학년 모두 남녀 학생 간 과학 성취도에 있어 의미 있는 차이를 보이지 않았다. 주관식 문항에서는 7학년의 경우 여학생의 과학 성취도가 남학생보다 유의미하게 높았으나. 8, 9학년에서는 의미 있는 성 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 반면, 수행 평가의 경우 3개 학년 모두 여학생이 의미 있는 차이를 보이며 남학생보다 높은 성취도를 나타냈다. 셋째, 상, 중, 하 성취 집단 모두 객관식 문항에서는 남학생이 유의미하게 높은 성취도를 보였고, 주관식 문항에서는 성 차이가 나타나지 않은 반면, 수행 평가에서는 세 집단 모두 여학생이 유의미하게 높은 성취도를 보였다. 넷째, 상위 10% 이내의 학생 집단의 경우 전체적인 과학 성취도 결과와 그 경향이 전혀 달라, 이들 최상위권 학생들의 경우 모든 학년에서 객관식과 주관식 문항은 물론이고 수행 평가에서도 성별 성취도 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 다섯째, 전체 과학 성취도와 평가 방법들과의 상관 관계를 살펴본 결과, 남녀 학생 모두 모든 학년에 걸쳐 전체 과학 성취도와 가장 큰 상관 관계가 있는 평가 유형은 객관식 문항인 것으로 나타난 반면, 전체 과학 성취도와 가장 작은 상관 관계가 잇는 평가 유형은 수행 평가인 것으로 나타났다. 한편, 평가 방법과 전체 과학 성취도 결과와의 상관 관계는 성별로 다소 다른 경향을 보였는데, 여학생보다는 남학생의 경우 수행 평가와 전체 과학 성취도와의 상관 관계가 높은 것으로 나타났다. 수행 평가가 학생들의 능력을 더욱 타당하게 평가할 수 있다는 기존의 연구 결과에 비추어 볼 때, 이 연구에서 여학생들이 남학생들에 비해 수행 평가에서 높은 성취도를 보인 점은 매우 주목할 만하다.

Keywords

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