• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2007

This study sets out to assess the scientific literacy of secondary school students and to describe their differences according to gender, grade, course. This study involved 112 middle school students and 213 high school students. Their scientific literacy was measured by the Scientific Literacy Test designed by Manhart (1997). A 70-item multiple-choice test was used to assess their scientific literacy. The constructs of science factor included 36 items making up physical science, life science, and earth science subtests. The social aspects of science factor consisted of 34 items in nature of scientific inquiry/knowledge, science as a human endeavor, science and technology, and societal perspectives. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test were conducted using the SPSS program. The scientific literacy score of the middle school students was 45.17. There was no significant difference according to gender but boys tended to perform better than girls on both the constructs of science factor and the social aspects of science factor. The scientific literacy score of the high school students was 51.79. There was no significant difference according to gender. But, boys tended to perform better than girls on the constructs of science factor. Girls tended to perform better than boys on the social aspects of science factor. The students taking a course on natural science got statistically higher scores than the students taking a course on humanities. The high school students got statistically higher scores than the middle school students.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.341-358
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to develop performance assessment materials of scientific inquiry skills on sixty scientific activities in elementary science textbook for fifth and sixth grades. For this study, a total of 500 elementary teachers were sampled and surveys were carried out to examine the status of performance assessment of scientific inquiry skills in school. The classification system of assessment methods by Hart(1994) was also analyzed to create' assessment strategy of scientific inquiry skills' for elementary school students. Based on the quantitative data analysis and literature study, performance assessment materials were developed and applied to science classes for fifth and sixth grades. Teachers and students were interviewed after the classes for asking about merits and improvements and the performance assessment materials were revised. This study can provide elementary school teachers with reliable sources for performance assessment of scientific inquiry skills utilized in their science classes.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.spc5
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• pp.532-547
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to investigate the creative science problem solving (CSPS) process amongst scientifically-gifted students and average students through the qualitative think-aloud research method, and to compare the differences in their CSP, scientific knowledge, scientific process skills, creative thinking, and finally, the affective domain used in their CSPS. For the purposes of this study, two scientifically-gifted 6th grade students and one average student were selected. The results show that one gifted student with good creative thinking skills exhibited better performance in CSPS than the other gifted student, who had the highest level of scientific knowledge. In the case of the average student, in spite of her high level of factual knowledge, she had difficulty in proceeding in CSPS due to her shallow scientific knowledge along with her low level of understanding of the given problem. This study highlights the importance of considering the factors which influence successful CSPS and which can play an important role in the education of scientifically-gifted children. These factors were identified as scientific knowledge, understanding of the scientific process, creative thinking, the affective domain, and science problem solving skills.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.375-386
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• 2019

This study explores how elementary school students construct food pyramid prediction models using scientific reasoning. Thirty small groups of sixth-grade students in the Kyoungki province (n=138) participated in this study; each small group constructed a food pyramid prediction model based on scientific reasoning, utilizing prior knowledge on topics such as biotic and abiotic factors, food chains, food webs, and food pyramid concepts. To understand the scientific reasoning applied by the students during the modeling process, three forms of qualitative data were collected and analyzed: each small group's discourse, their representation, and the researcher's field notes. Based on this data, the researcher categorized the students' model patterns into three categories and identified how the students used scientific reasoning in their model patterns. The study found that the model patterns consisted of the population number variation model, the biological and abiotic factors change model, and the equilibrium model. In the population number variation model, students used phenomenon-based reasoning and relation-based reasoning to predict variations in the number of producers and consumers. In the biotic and abiotic factors change model, students used relation-based reasoning to predict the effects on producers and consumers as well as on decomposers and abiotic factors. In the equilibrium model, students predicted that "the food pyramid would reach equilibrium," using relation-based reasoning and model-based reasoning. This study demonstrates that elementary school students can systematically elaborate on complicated ecology concepts using scientific reasoning and modeling processes.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.465-474
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• 2020

This study investigated the relationships among 'sense of humor', 'creativity', 'creativity in scientific humor', and 'perceptions of educational benefits for making scientific humor' of elementary students. To do this, fifth graders (n=42) at an elementary school and fifth graders (n=38) at gifted science education institutes in Seoul were selected. Tests for 'sense of humor', 'creativity', 'creativity in scientific humor', and 'perceptions of educational benefits for making scientific humor' were then administered. Analysis of the results revealed that all subcategories of 'sense of humor' had significantly positive relationships with all subcategories of 'creativity' except 'openness'. However, all subcategories of 'sense of humor' were not significantly correlated with all subcategories of 'creativity in scientific humor' and 'perception of educational benefits for making scientific humor'. Educational implications of these findings are discussed.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.419-429
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• 2006

This study investigated gender differences in the factors affecting elementary school students' ability to identify scientific problems. Scientific problem finding tasks, involving written instruments including IQ tests, content knowledge, science process skills, divergent thinking skills, intrinsic/extrinsic motivation, personality traits, and home environment were administered to 96 elementary school students(male; 50 & female: 46). The data collected was analyzed by means of a t-test, Pearson's correlation, multiple regression analysis, and canonical correlation analysis. The finding indicated that there were significant gender differences in scientific problem finding performance. Female students were significantly higher in both total score and elaborate score of scientific problem finding than male students. Personality traits and intrinsic motivation positively and extrinsic motivation negatively predicted male students' abilities in scientific problem finding. Science process skills, personality traits and intrinsic motivation positively and extrinsic motivation negatively predicted female students' scientific problem finding and IQ positively predicted female students' elaborate score of scientific problem finding.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.21-33
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• 2016

A sustainable development in science, innovation, and technology requires a balanced distribution of scientific wealth in sub-country regions. This paper addresses the issue of geographical distribution of scientific wealth and its goal is to offer a framework to describe and measure the share of provinces in national scientific wealth. Our proposed model divides the indicators of scientific wealth into two groups, production and the use of scientific wealth. To evaluate this model, the scientific wealth of Iran was studied using recorded data on IRANDOC databases. Rich, average, and poor provinces were identified and the results showed that 70% of the scientific wealth belongs to 20% of the provinces. The findings can facilitate planning for a sustainable science and technology policy.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2014

This study is to reclassify the classifications or definitions of scientific literacy in scientific literacy researches since 1960s and grasp the classification trends of scientific literacy definitions. Sixteen articles have been selected among the articles that have been introduced in the two articles. Classification criteria are as follows: 1) "be learned," "competence," or "be able to function in society" as meanings of "literate," 2) "terms" or "description" as the ways of representing scientific literacy, 3) "singular structure," "hierarchical structure," or "parallel structure" as the inner structure of scientific literacy definitions. The results of this study are as follows: First, hierarchical structures in scientific literacy have almost always accompanied "terms" representing scientific literacy and also accepted the hierarchy between "be learned" and "competence," but not the definition of scientific literacy as functioning in society. All parallel structures in scientific literacy have accompanied the definition as functioning in society. And singular structure almost always appears in researches based on the views of scientific literacy in relatively recent times. Second, researches who have used "terms" as ways of representing scientific literacy have increased. Based on the results in this study, the meanings of scientific literacy have been emphasized in view of the ability of playing a role in a social context as well as learning and competence these days. To meet this movement in scientific literacy actively, science education community should get out of traditional teaching and learning scientific concepts and give emphasis on application in various context and social role of science learners.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.191-202
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• 2019

This study investigated the relationships among 'integrative creativity', 'creativity in scientific humor', and 'perceptions of educational benefits for making scientific humor' of elementary students. To do this, five graders (n=42) at an elementary school and five graders (n=38) at a gifted science education institutes in Seoul were selected. Tests for 'integrative creativity', 'creativity in scientific humor', and 'perceptions of educational benefits for making scientific humor' were then administered. Analysis of the results revealed that the scores for some subcategories of 'creativity in scientific humor' were positively correlated with those for 'integrative creativity', especially for 'creative motivation (e.g., curiosity and playfulness)' and 'creative potency (e.g., knowledge, imagination, sensitivity, flexibility, and fluency)' more than 'creative attitude'. The subcategories of 'integrated creativity' that were significantly related to 'creativity in scientific humor' were somewhat different according to the subcategories of 'creativity in scientific humor'. The scores for all subcategories of 'perception of educational benefits for making scientific humor' were not significantly correlated with those for almost all subcategories of 'integrative creativity' and 'creativity in scientific humor'. Educational implications of these findings are discussed.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2016

Given the difference in research performance in various scientific fields, this study aims to weight and valuate current indicators used for evaluation of scientific productions (publications), in order to adjust these indicators in comparison to each other and make possible a more precise evaluation of scientific productions. This is a scientometrics study using documentary, evaluative, and survey techniques. The statistical population consisted of 106 top Iranian researchers, scientists, and scientific and research managers. Then their research résumé information was gathered and analyzed based on research questions. In order to compare values, the data gathered from research production performance of the population was weighted using Shannon entropy method. Also, the weights of each scientific production importance according to expert opinions (extracted from other works) was analyzed and after adjustment the final weight of each scientific production was determined. A pairwise matrix was used in order to determine the ratios. According to the results, in the area of engineering sciences, patents (0.142) in the area of science, international articles (0.074) in the area of humanities and social sciences, books (0.174), and in the area of medical sciences, international articles (0.111) had the highest weight compared to other information formats. By dividing the weights for each type of publication, the value of each scientific production compared to other scientific productions in the same field and productions of other fields was calculated. Validation of the results in the studied population resulted in very high credibility for all investigated indicators in all four fields. By using these values and normalized ratios of publication indicators it is possible to achieve precise and adjusted results, making it possible to feasibly use these results in realistic policy making.