• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.206-217
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• 2010

This study aims to explore preservice teachers' overall views of nature of science and compare their views by gender and certificate area (biology vs. non-biology teachers). In addition, a comparison with American preservice teachers' views was also implemented. The Views of Nature of Science (Abd-El-Khalick, 1998), an openended questionnaire, is utilized to explore participants' views of nature of science. Along with 'definition of science', six aspects of the nature of science, (1) theories and laws, (2) tentativeness, (3) social and cultural embeddedness, (4) creativity, (5) theory-laden, and (6) inference, were investigated. The qualitative result indicates that the participants' first image of science was about the method of science such as observations and experiments. Furthermore, these preservice science teachers particularly have a difficulty in differentiating between scientific theories and laws, and understanding the importance of creation and imagination in developing scientific knowledge. In addition, compared to American preservice teachers' view of the nature of science, Korean preservice teachers possess naive views in creative and imaginative aspect. Interestingly, biology teachers demonstrated lower understanding in theories and laws as well as tentativeness of scientific knowledge. However, there is no difference by gender.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.157-169
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• 2010

Scientific observation has been recognized as one of the fundamental aspects in scientific inquiry. However, more detailed discussions and practical guides for teachers' and students' understanding about the nature of scientific observation have not been conducted. Therefore, based on literature reviews, we described the nature of theory-laden scientific observation as 11 detailed statements. Using theses statements, we investigated science teachers' and students' recognition of each statement. According to results, certain aspects of theory-laden scientific observation were determined as important aspects to be considered for science teachers' in-service programs or for students' learning activities in understanding the nature of science.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.261-272
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• 2008

This study focused on explicitly instructional effects about NOS(Nature of Science) of sixth grade students. Participants were 28 sixth grade students. Data sources included classroom observations of the explicit NOS science lessons, questionnaire, and interviews. 5 students among the participants were selected for the interviews. Date were analyzed for finding the changes of students' thoughts. Before the instruction, the majority of participants held naive views of NOS, but after the instruction, the majority of participants held informed views of NOS. Developing informed conception of NOS within curriculum is necessary to growth of science education.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to develop a new test instrument based on AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy, to assess k-12 students' progress in understanding nature of science (NOS). A total of 276 items were developed including 33 items for grade k-2, 36 items for grade 3-5, 78 items for grade 6-8 and 129 items for grade 9-12 and they were reviewed for validity and reliability. Key ideas that were the foundation of test items were extended, sophisticated and enriched according to the grade level. The general score of this test represents a student's cognitive state about an understanding of NOS. The result of this test can be expected to give some useful information for follow-up investigations, improving instructional design, and conducting further studies.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.100-107
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to assess gifted students' conceptions about nature of science (NOS). Scientifically gifted students who are expected to be professionals in the future should possess an adequate understanding of NOS that if firm foundation for scientific career. 47 volunteers from the 8th grade gifted science program in Seoul National University Gifted Education Center participated to answer questions inquiring NOS conceptions. Their answers were analyzed and compared to different groups such as non-gifted students and younger gifted students. As a result, gifted students' understanding of NOS appeared to surpass that of non-gifted students in many aspects and it seemed that gifted students formed their NOS view in early ages. The relative weakness in their NOS conceptions was found in understanding of scientific enterprise. Their strong misunderstanding about obstacles that minority people would face in scientific enterprise was noticed, too. They admitted that there has been discrimination in scientific enterprise, but they wrongly believed that outstanding scientists cannot be affected by it. Further studies will be required to probe more.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2009

This study examines the relationships between visitors' environmental attitudes as measured by the new environmental paradigm (NEP) and their recreational motivations based on data collected from a national park in South Korea. The data analysis indicated that visitors' environmental attitudes and motivation were multi-dimensional structures. The NEP composed of three factors named 'Humans over Nature', 'Balance of Nature', and Limit to Growth'. Visitors' motivation also composed of four factors representing 'Achievement and Stimulation', 'Escape and Enjoying Nature', 'Social and Leadership', and 'Family'. However, there were significant correlations among the factors, suggesting they were independent each other. There were also significant differences in visitors' motivation due to their level of environmental attitudes.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.336-344
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to analyse achievement of 'Scientific Inquiry and the Nature of Science' in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study-Repeat (TIMSS-R), which was performed in 1999 with 38 nations participating. Korean 8th grade students' achievement of 'Scientific Inquiry and the Nature of Science' was compared to that of other countries and other content areas in science. Average percent correct of items in each subcategory - Scientific Method, Experimental Design, Scientific Measurements, Describing and Interpreting Data - was also analysed. Although 'Scientific Inquiry and the Nature of Science' topics were not included in intended curriculum in Korea, Korean students' average scale score of 'Scientific Inquiry and the Nature of Science' was significantly higher than international average and, in comparison with other science content areas, achievement of that area was relatively high. The reasons could be that the most students studied topics related to 'Scientific Inquiry and the Nature of Science' through the implemented curriculum and that the Korean teachers recognized the importance of inquiry. According to the results to analyze subcategories, the average percent correct of Korea were higher than 50% except the 'Scientific Measurements' subcategory. However, the international average percent correct were lower than 50%. Especially, the average percent correct of Korea was the highest in 'Describing and Interpreting Data' subcategory despite there were many students who were confused at observation, hypothesis and conclusion.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2009.04a
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• pp.7-20
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• 2009

On the basis of introducing the development process of Chinese nature reserve since first nature reserve was set up in 1959 in China, and comparing the definition of nature reserve between IUCN and China, combining with the objectives and significance of the establishment of Chinese Nature Reserve, the present state and achievements of nature reserve in China were introduced detailedly. And the effect of the laws and rules on the protection in nature and biodiversity was assessed after analyzing the characteristics of the interrelated laws and rules enacted in course of development of Chinese nature reserve over 50 years. Also the qualifications and procedures of nature reserve establishment and relevance aspects of content in China were narrated, and the classification system and management system of Chinese nature reserve and their characteristics were introduced. Finally, the Medium and Long Term Program for Nature Reserve Development in China was introduced, and present some proposals to solve the problems on the basics that discuss the distribution status and its characteristics and problems on managing nature reserve in China.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2006

Student understanding of the nature of science is necessary not only because it is helpful for solving everyday problems with growing science literacy, but also because it influences students' science learning. Therefore, it was necessary to investigate student views on the nature of science under the 7th national curriculum and compare with those before the 7th national curriculum in order to probe the elements which contribute to changes in student views on the nature of science. A significant number of differences were found between subdimensions of views on the nature of science through the comparison. High school students under the 7th national curriculum had more relativistic, instrumental, and deductive but less process-oriented views than high school students before the 7th national curriculum. The differences between mean values which showed high school student views on the nature of science under and before the 7th national curriculum were significant, except for the subdimension of instrumentanlism/realism. In particular, high school students under the 7th national curriculum possessed a contextual view, whereas those before the 7th national curriculum possessed a decontextual view. Although other factors might be the cause for differences found in this study, we argued by discussion that differences among textbook contents seemed to be the major factor.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.677-691
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• 2014

Understanding of the nature of science (NOS) has been a consistent topic as one of the most important goals in science education for the past several decades. Even though there is a variety of research related with the NOS conducted in science education, few researches has been conducted for the conception of scientists regards to the nature of science (Bayir et al., 2014; Taylor et al., 2008; Wong & Hudson, 2008). Recently, researchers in science education turned their attention to identifying views of scientists about the nature of science since they recognized the importance of participation of scientists in science education (Southerland et al., 2003; Taylor et al., 2008). This study was conducted to examine the Korean scientists' views of the nature of science. Through the use of semi-structured questionnaire and in-depth interview the views of 35 scientists who belong to the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) regards to the nature of science were explored. Findings show that while the scientists have more informed views with respect to the tentativeness of scientific knowledge, cultural and social influence embedded in science, the limitation of science, and the collaboration of science with others, the scientists have more na${\ddot{i}}$ve views about the distinction between laws and theories, the existence of a universal scientific method, and the importance of imagination and creativity. As such, it can be assumed that the scientists cannot conceptualize their notion in a philosophical sense even though they are engaged in scientific work in reality (Bayir et al., 2014).