Primary teachers' attitudes toward science: A new theoretical framework

Science Education

Volumn 96, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 158-182

  van Aalderen Smeets, Sandra I ^a   Walma van der Molen, Juliette H ^a   Asma, Lieke J F ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE   (Netherlands)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 84155172318     PISSN: 00368326     EISSN: 1098237X     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1002/sce.20467     Document Type: Article

References (84)

1. Ajzen, I. (2001). Nature and operation of attitudes. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 27-58.
2. Ajzen, I. (2002). Perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, locus of control, and the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 665-683.
3. Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood-Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
4. Appleton, K. (1995). Student teachers' confidence to teach science: Is more science knowledge necessary to improve self-confidence? International Journal of Science Education, 17, 357-369.
5. Appleton, K., & Kindt, I. (1999). Why teach primary science? Influences on beginning teachers' practices. International Journal of Science Education, 21, 155-168.
6. Asma, L. J. F., Walma van der Molen, J. H., & van Aalderen-Smeets, S. I. (in press). Primary teachers' attitudes towards science: Results of a focus group study. In M. J. de Vries, H. van Keulen, S. Peters, & J. H. Walma van der Molen (Eds.). Professional development for primary teachers in science. The Dutch VTB-Pro project in an international perspective. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: SensePublishers.
7. Atwater, M. M., Gardner, C., & Kight, C. R. (1991). Beliefs and attitudes of urban primary teachers toward physical science and teaching physical science. Journal of Elementary Science Education, 3, 3-12.
8. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: Freeman.
9. Barmby, P., Kind, P. M., & Jones, K. (2008). Examining changing attitudes in secondary school science. International Journal of Science Education, 30, 1075-1093.
10. Bennett, J., Rollnick, M., Green, G., & White, M. (2001). The development and use of an instrument to assess students' attitude to the study of chemistry. International Journal of Science Education, 23, 833-845.
11. Blalock, C. L., Lichtenstein, M. J., Owen, S., Pruski, L., Marshall, C., & Toepperwein, M. (2008). In pursuit of validity: A comprehensive review of science attitude instruments 1935-2005. International Journal of Science Education, 30, 961-977.
12. Bleicher, R. E. (2004). Revisiting the STEBI-B: Measuring self-efficacy in preservice elementary teachers. School Science and Mathematics, 104, 383-392.
13. Bleicher, R. E. (2007). Nurturing confidence in preservice elementary science teachers. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 18, 841-860.
14. Burgerpeiling Wetenschap [Citizen survey on science] (Projectnr. 15677). (2009). The Hague, The Netherlands: Innovatieplatform. Retrieved August 2011 from.
15. Bursal, M., & Paznokas, L. (2006). Mathematics anxiety and preservice elementary teachers' confidence to teach mathematics and science. School Science and Mathematics, 106, 173-180.
16. Carleton, L. E., Fitch, J. C., & Krockover, G. H. (2008). An inservice teacher education program's effect on teacher efficacy and attitudes. The Educational Forum, 72, 46-62.
17. Cobern, W. W., & Loving, C. C. (2002). Investigation of preservice elementary teachers' thinking about science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 39, 1016-1031.
18. Coulson, R. (1992). Development of an instrument for measuring attitudes of early childhood educators towards science. Research in Science Education, 22, 101-105.
19. Daamen, D. L, van Der Lans, I. O., & Midden, C. J. H. (1990). Cognitive structures in the perception of modern technologies. Science, Technology & Human Values, 15, 202-225.
20. Duschl, R., Schweingruber, H., & Shouse, A. (Eds.) (2007). Taking science to school: Learning and teaching science in grades K-8. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
21. Eagly, A., & Chaiken, S. (1993). The psychology of attitudes. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth group/Thomson Learning.
22. Enochs, L. G., & Riggs, I. M. (1990). Further development of an elementary science teaching efficacy belief instrument: A preservice elementary scale. School Science and Mathematics, 90, 694-706.
23. Eurobarometer 38.1. (1992). Europeans, science: Public understanding and attitudes. Brussels, Belgium: European Commission.
24. Evans, G., & Durant, J. (1995). The relationship between knowledge and attitudes in the public understanding of science in Britain. Public Understanding of Science, 4, 57-74.
25. Ford, M. (1992). Motivating humans: Goals, emotions, and personal agency beliefs. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
26. Gardner, P. L. (1975). Attitudes to science: A review. Studies in Science Education, 2, 1-41.
27. Gardner, P. L. (1995). Measuring attitudes to science: Unidimensionality and internal consistency revisited. Research in Science Education, 25, 283-289.
28. Goodrum, D., Hackling, M., & Rennie, L. (2001). The status and quality of teaching and learning of science in Australian schools (a research report for the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs). Canberra, Australia.
29. Haney, J. J., Czerniak, C. M., & Lumpe, A. T. (1996). Teacher beliefs and intentions regarding the implementation of science education reform strands. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 33, 971-993.
30. Harlen, W. (1997). Primary teachers' understanding in science and its impact in the classroom. Research in Science Education, 27, 323-337.
31. Harlen, W., & Holroyd, C. (1997). Primary teachers' understanding of concepts of science: Impact on confidence and teaching. International Journal of Science Education, 19, 93-105.
32. Hartshorne, R. (2008). Effects of hypermedia-infused professional development on attitudes toward teaching science. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 38, 333-351.
33. Harty, H., Samuel, J. V., & Anderson, H. O. (1991). Understanding the nature of science and attitudes towards science and science teaching of preservice elementary teachers in three preparation sequences. Journal of Elementary Science Education, 3, 13-22.
34. Hassan, A. M. A., & Shrigley, R. L. (1984). Designing a Likert scale to measure chemistry attitudes. School Science and Mathematics, 84, 659-69.
35. Haury, D. (1989). The contribution of science locus of control orientation to expressions of attitude toward science teaching. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 26, 503-517.
36. Holroyd, C., & Harlen, W. (1996). Primary teachers' confidence about teaching science. Research Papers in Education, 11, 323-335.
37. Jarrett, O. S. (1999). Science interest and confidence among preservice elementary teachers. Journal of Elementary Science Education, 11, 47-57.
38. Jarvis, T., & Pell, A. (2004). Primary teachers' changing attitudes and cognition during a two-year science inservice programme and their effect on pupils. International Journal of Science Education, 26, 1787-1811.
39. Johnston, J., & Ahtee, M. (2006). Comparing primary student teachers' attitudes, subject knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge needs in a physics activity. Teaching and Teacher Education, 22, 503-512.
40. Kind, P. M., Jones, K., & Barmby, P. (2007). Developing attitudes towards science measures. International Journal of Science Education, 29, 871-893.
41. Klop, T. (2008). Attitudes of secondary school students towards modern biotechnology. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
42. Koballa, T. R. Jr., (1986). Teaching hands-on science activities: Variables that moderate attitude-behavior consistency. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 23, 493-502.
43. Liang, L. L., & Gabel, D. L. (2005). Effectiveness of a constructivist approach to science instruction for prospective elementary teachers. International Journal of Science Education, 27, 1143-1162.
44. Lumpe, A. T., Haney, J. J., & Czerniak, C. M. (2000). Assessing teachers' beliefs about their science teaching context. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 37, 275-292.
45. Martin-Dunlop, C., & Fraser, B. J. (2007). Learning environment and attitudes associated with an innovative science course designed for prospective elementary teachers. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 6, 163-190.
46. McDevitt, T. M., Heikkinen, H. W., Alcorn, J. K., Ambrosio, A. L., & Gardner, A. L (1993). Evaluation of the preparation of teachers in science and mathematics: Assessment of preservice teachers' attitudes and beliefs. Science Education, 77, 593-610.
47. Mulholland, J., & Wallace, J. (1996). Breaking the cycle: Preparing elementary teachers to teach science. Journal of Elementary Science Education, 8, 17-38.
48. Murphy, C., Neil, P., & Beggs, J. (2007). Primary science teacher confidence revisited: Ten years on. Educational Research, 49, 415-430.
49. Osborne, J., & Dillon, J. (2008). Science education in Europe: Critical reflections (a report to the Nuffield Foundation). London: the Nuffield Foundation. Retrieved from.
50. Osborne, J., Simon, S., & Collins, S. (2003). Attitudes towards science: A review of the literature and its implications. International Journal of Science Education, 25, 1049-1079.
51. Pajares, M. F. (1992). Teachers' beliefs and educational research: Cleaning up a messy construct. Review of Educational Research, 62, 307-332.
52. Palmer, D. H. (2001). Factors contributing to attitude exchange amongst preservice elementary teachers. Science Education, 86, 122-138.
53. Palmer, D. H. (2004). Situational interest and the attitudes towards science of primary teacher education students. International Journal of Science Education, 26, 895-908.
54. Palmer, D. H. (2006). Sources of self-efficacy in a science methods course for primary teacher education students. Research in Science Education, 36, 337-353.
55. Pardo, R., & Calvo, F. (2002). Attitudes toward science among the European public: A methodological analysis. Public Understanding of Science, 11, 155-195.
56. Pedersen, J. E., & McCurdy, D. W. (1992). The effects of hands-on, minds-on teaching experiences on attitudes of preservice elementary teachers. Science Education, 76, 141-146.
57. Plonczak, I. (2008). Science for all: Empowering elementary school teachers. Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, 3, 167-181.
58. Ramey-Gassert, L., Shroyer, M. G., & Staver, J. R. (1996). A qualitative study of factors influencing science teaching self-efficacy of elementary level teachers. Science Education, 80, 283-315.
59. Reid, N. (2006). Thoughts on attitude measurement. Research in Science & Technological Education, 24, 3-27.
60. Rocard, M., Csermely, P., Jorde, D., Lenzen, D., Walberg-Henriksson, H., & Hemmo, V. (2007). Science education now: A renewed pedagogy for the future of Europe. Brussels, Belgium: Directorate-General for Research, European Commission.
61. Rosenthal, R. (1994). Science and ethics in conducting, analyzing, and reporting psychological research. Psychological Science, 5, 127-134.
62. Scharmann, L. C., & Orth Hampton, C. M. (1995). Cooperative learning and preservice elementary teacher science self-efficacy. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 6, 125-133.
63. Schoon, K. J., & Boone, W. J. (1998). Self-efficacy and alternative conceptions of science of preservice elementary teachers. Science Education, 82, 553-568.
64. Schwarz, N. (2008). Attitude measurement. In W. Crano & R. Prislin (Eds.), Attitudes and attitude change (pp. 41-60). Philadelphia: Psychology Press.
65. Shepardson, D. P., & Pizzini, E. L. (1992). Gender bias in female elementary teachers' perceptions of the scientific ability of students. Science Education, 76, 147-153.
66. Shrigley, R. L. (1974). The attitude of preservice elementary teachers toward science. School Science and Mathematics, 74, 243-250.
67. Shrigley, R. L. (1983). Persuade, mandate, and reward: A paradigm for changing the science attitudes and behaviors of teachers. School Science and Mathematics, 83, 204-215.
68. Shrigley, R. L., & Johnson, T. M. (1974). The attitude of inservice elementary teachers toward science. School Science and Mathematics, 74, 437-446.
69. Skamp, K. (1991). Primary science: How confident are teachers? Research in Science Education, 21, 290-299.
70. Tai, R. H, Liu, C. Q, Maltese, A. V, & Fan, X. (2006). Planning early for careers in science. Science, 312, 1143-1145.
71. Thompson, C. L., & Shrigley, R. L. (1986). What research says: Revising the Science Attitude Scale. School Science and Mathematics, 86, 331-343.
72. Tobin, K., Tippins, D., & Gallard, A. (1994). Research on instructional strategies for teaching science. In D. Gabel (Ed.), Handbook of research on science teaching and learning (pp. 45-93). New York: Macmillan.
73. Tosun, T. (2000). The beliefs of preservice elementary teachers toward science and science teaching. School Science and Mathematics, 100, 374-379.
74. Trumper, R. (1998). The need for change in elementary-school teacher training: The force concept as an example. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 26, 7-25.
75. van Aalderen-Smeets, S. I., Walma van der Molen, J. H., & Asma, L. J. F. (submitted). Developing a new instrument to measure primary teachers' attitudes towards teaching science.
76. Van Driel, J. H., Beijaard, D., & Verloop, N. (2001). Professional development and reform in science education: The role of teachers' practical knowledge. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 38, 137-158.
77. Walma van der Molen, J. H., van Aalderen-Smeets, S. I., & Asma, L. J. F. (2010). Teaching science at primary school level: Theoretical and practical considerations for primary school teachers' professional training. Proceedings of the IOSTE Symposium on Science Education, Vol. 14, June. Retrieved August 2011 from.
78. Weinburgh, M. (2007). The effect of Tenebrio obscurus on elementary preservice teachers' content knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 18, 801-815.
79. Wenner, G. (1993). Relationship between science knowledge levels and beliefs toward science instruction held by preservice elementary teachers. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 2, 461-468.
80. Wenner, G. (1995). Science knowledge and efficacy beliefs among preservice elementary teachers: A follow-up study. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 4, 307-315.
81. Yates, S., & Goodrum, D. (1990). How confident are primary school teachers in teaching science? Research in Science Education, 20, 300-305.
82. Yilmaz-Tuzun, O. (2008). Preservice elementary teachers' beliefs about science teaching. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 19, 183-204.
83. Young, B. J., & Kellogg, T. (1993). Science attitudes and preparation of preservice elementary teachers. Science Education, 77, 279-291.
84. Young, T. (1998). Student Teachers' Attitudes Towards Science (STATS). Evaluation and Research in Education, 12, 96-111.