Skip to main content
Log in

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GRADE 11 PALESTINIAN ATTITUDES TOWARD BIOLOGY AND THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THE BIOLOGY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

  • Published:
International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

ABSTRACT

The aims of the study were to investigate (a) the relationship between the attitudes toward biology and perceptions of the biology learning environment among grade 11 students in Tulkarm District, Palestine and (b) the effect of gender and residence of these students on their attitudes toward biology and on their perceptions of the biology learning environment. The study used a 30-item Attitudes Toward Biology Questionnaire and a 32-item Learning Environment Questionnaire. The association between attitudes toward biology and the biology learning environment were significant, with a correlation coefficient of 0.366. The results of the study indicated that there were significant gender differences in attitudes toward biology and in perceptions of the learning environment, favoring females; however, there were no significant residence differences in attitudes toward biology and in perceptions of the learning environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Adolphe, F. S. G., Fraser, B. J., & Aldridge, J. (2003). Classroom environment and attitudes among junior secondary science students: A cross-national study in Australia and Indonesia. Paper presented at the 3rd International Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Conference, East London, South Africa.

  • Aldridge, J. M., Fraser, B. J., & Huang, I. T. (1999). Investigating classroom environments in Taiwan and Australia with multiple research methods. Journal of Educational Research, 93(1), 48–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angell, C., Guttersrud, O., Henriksen, K., & Isness, A. (2004). Physics: Frightful, but fun. Pupils' and teachers' views of physics and physics teaching. Science Education, 88(5), 683–706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnson, E., Wilson, D. T., & Akert, M. R. (1994). Social psychology. The heart and the mind. New York: Harper Collins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, J., Ebert-May, D., & Burns, D. (1999). The development of a college biology self-efficacy instrument for non majors. Science Education, 83(4), 397–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cakiroglu, J., Telli, S., & Cakiroglu, E. (2003). Turkish high school student's perceptions of learning environment in biology classrooms and their attitudes toward biology. ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 477696.

  • Chuang, H-F., & Cheng, Y-J. (2003). A study on attitudes toward biology and learning environment of the seventh grade students. Chinese Journal of Science Education, 11(2), 171–194 [in Chinese].

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, C. (2000). Upper primary boys' and girls' interests in science: Have they changed since 1980? International Journal of Science Education, 22(6), 557–570.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delpech, R. (2002). Why are school students bored with science? Journal of Biological Education, 36(4), 156–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunlop, C., & Fraser, B. J. (2008). Learning environments and attitudes associated with an innovative science course designed for prospective elementary teachers. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 6(1), 163–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebenezer, J. V., & Zoller, U. (1993). Grade 10 students' perceptions of and attitudes toward science teaching and school science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 30(2), 175–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fouts, J. T., & Myers, R. E. (1992). Classroom environments and middle school students' views of science. Journal of Educational Research, 85(6), 356–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, B. J. (1998a). Science learning environments: Assessment, effects and determinants. In B. J. Fraser & K. G. Tobin (Eds.), International handbook of science education (pp. 527–564). Dordrecht: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, B. J. (1998b). Validity and use of classroom environment instrument. Journal of Classroom Interaction, 26(2), 5–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, B. J. (2001). Twenty thousand hours. Learning Environments Research, 4(1), 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, B. J., Anderson, G. J., & Walberg, H. J. (1982). Assessment of learning environments. Manual for Learning Environment Inventory (LEI) and My Class Inventory (MCI) (3rd ed.). Perth: Western Australian Institute of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, B. J., Giddings, G. L., & McRobbie, C. J. (1995). Evaluation and validation of a personal form of an instrument for assessing science laboratory classroom environments. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 32(4), 399–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, B. J., McRobbie, C. J., & Fisher, D. L. (1996). Development, validation and use of personal and class forms of a new class environment instrument. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York.

  • Gall, M. D., Gall, J. P., & Borg, W. R. (2003). Educational research, an introduction (7th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goh, S. C., & Tobin, K. (1999). Student and teacher perspective in computer-mediated learning environments in teacher education. Learning Environments Research, 2(2), 169–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hahn, C. L., & Tocci, C. M. (1990). Classroom climate and controversial issues discussions. A five nation study. Theory and Research in Social Education, 18(4), 344–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, M. G., Howe, A., & Rua, M. J. (2000). Gender differences in students' experience, interests, and attitudes toward science and scientists. Science Education, 84(2), 180–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, H., Fisher, D. L., & Fraser, B. J. (2000). Classroom environment and teacher interpersonal behavior in secondary school classes in Korea. Evaluation and Research in Education, 14(1), 3–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koballa, T. R., Jr., & Crawley, F. E. (1985). The influence of attitude on science teaching and learning. School Science and Mathematics, 85(3), 222–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koballa, T. R., Jr., & Glynn, S. M. (2007). Attitudinal and motivational constructs in science learning. In S. K. Abell & N. G. Lederman (Eds.), Handbook of research on science education (pp. 75–102). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Likert, R. (1932). A technique for measurement of attitude. Archives of Psychology, 140(1), 1–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacLeod, C., & Fraser, B. J. (2009). Development, validation and application of a modified Arabic translation of the What Is Happening In this Class? (WIHIC) Questionnaire. Learning Environments Research. doi:10.1007/s10984-008-9052-5.

  • Moos, R. H. (1974). The social climate scale: An overview. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mucherah, W. (2008). Classroom climate and students' goal structures in high-school biology classrooms in Kenya. Learning Environments Research, 11(1), 63–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally, J. O. (1978). Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prokop, P., Prokop, M., & Tunnicliffe, S. D. (2007a). Is biology boring? Student attitudes toward biology. Journal of Biological Education, 42(1), 36–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prokop, P., Tunser, G., & Chuda, J. (2007b). Slovakian students' attitudes toward biology. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education, 3(4), 287–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsden, J. M. (1998). Mission impossible?: Can anything be done about attitudes to science? International Journal of Science Education, 20(2), 125–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riah, H., & Fraser, B. J. (1998). Chemistry learning environments and its association with students' achievement in chemistry. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.

  • Roelofs, E., Visser, J., & Terwel, J. (2003). Preferences for various learning environments: Teachers' and parents' perceptions. Learning Environments Research, 6(1), 77–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, W. L., & Jesunathadas, J. (1988). The effect of task content upon proportional reasoning. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 25(1), 59–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spall, K., Stanisstreet, M., Dickson, D., & Boyes, E. (2004). Development of school students' constructions of biology and physics. International Journal of Science Education, 26(7), 787–803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, P., Fraser, B. J., & Fisher, D. L. (1997). Monitoring constructivist classroom learning environments. International Journal of Educational Research, 27(4), 293–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trenholm, S. (1999). Persuasion and social influence. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waxman, H. C., & Huang, S. L. (1998) Classroom learning environments in urban elementary, middle and high schools. Learning Environments Research, 1(1), 95–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinstock, H. R. (1967). Differentiating socio-philosophic attitudes toward science from problems pertinent to science teaching. Science Education, 51(3), 243–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler, L., Goodale, R. A., & Deese, J. (1974). General psychology. Oxford: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeidan, A., Abusamra, M., Jaber, A., & Barghuthi, I. (2004). The level of biological literacy and its relation with attitudes toward biology of the freshman and fourth year students at the college of science in Al-Quds University. Journal of the Association of Arab Universities, 43, 189–227.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Afif Zeidan.

ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

Appendix A (DOC 53 kb)

ESM 2

Appenix B (DOC 33 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zeidan, A. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GRADE 11 PALESTINIAN ATTITUDES TOWARD BIOLOGY AND THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THE BIOLOGY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. Int J of Sci and Math Educ 8, 783–800 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-009-9185-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-009-9185-8

KEY WORDS

Navigation