Skip to main content

Nature of Science in Science Instruction: Meaning, Advocacy, Rationales, and Recommendations

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Nature of Science in Science Instruction

Part of the book series: Science: Philosophy, History and Education ((SPHE))

Abstract

This chapter features discussion of the term “nature of science” (NOS) as it pertains to the ways in which NOS might inform plans for science teaching and learning. Included are thoughts about how we know what we know about the operation of science, historical recommendations, and trends regarding the inclusion of NOS in science instruction, along with rationales to support the inclusion of NOS content in the science classroom. The chapter concludes with a brief overview of research-based challenges and recommendations regarding NOS instruction and some thoughts about the future of NOS instruction.

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

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abd-El-Khalick, F. (1997) Improving prospective and practicing science teachers’ conceptions of the nature of science. Unpublished scholarly library research paper presented to the faculty and doctoral students. Department of Science and Mathematics Education, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abd-El-Khalick, F. (2013). Teaching with and about nature of science, and science teacher knowledge domains. Science & Education, 22(9), 2087–2107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abd-El-Khalick, F., & Lederman, N. G. (2000). Improving science teachers’ conceptions of the nature of science: A critical review of the literature. International Journal of Science Education, 22(7), 665–701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Achieve. (2013). Next generation science standards: For states, by states. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allchin, D. (2013). Teaching the nature of science: Perspectives and resources. St. Paul: SHiPS Education Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS]. (1990). Science for all Americans. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS]. (1993). Benchmarks for Science Literacy. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS]. (2001). Atlas of science literacy: Mapping K-12 learning and goals. Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arya, D. J., & Maul, A. (2012). The role of the scientific discovery narrative in middle school science education: An experimental study. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104(4), 1022–1032.

    Google Scholar 

  • Association for Science Education. (1981). Education through science: An ASE policy statement, Hatfield, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Backhus, D. A., & Thompson, K. W. (2006). Addressing the nature of science in preservice science teacher preparation programs: Science educator perceptions. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 17(1), 65–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, R. L., Mulvey, B. K., & Maeng, J. L. (2016). Outcomes of nature of science instruction along a context continuum: Preservice secondary science teachers’ conceptions and instructional intentions. International Journal of Science Education, 38(3), 493–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Central Association of Science and Mathematics Teachers (CASMT). (1907). A consideration of the principles that should determine the courses in biology in the secondary schools. School Science and Mathematics, 7, 241–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clough, M. P. (2006). Learners’ responses to the demands of conceptual change: Considerations for effective nature of science instruction. Science & Education, 15(5), 463–494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clough, M. P., & Herman, B. C. (2017). The role of history and nature of science in climate change teaching and learning. In D. Shepardson, A. Roychoudhury, & A. Hirsch (Eds.), Teaching and learning about climate change: A framework for educators. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clough, M. P., Herman, B. C., & Smith, J. A. R. (2010, January 14–16). Seamlessly teaching science content and the nature of science: Impact of historical short stories on post-secondary biology students. Association for Science Teacher Education International Conference, Sacramento, CA. https://storybehindthescience.org/research.html

  • Conant, J. B. (1946). On understanding science: An historical approach. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dagher, Z. R., & BouJaoude, S. (1997). Scientific views and religious beliefs of college students: The case of biological evolution. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 34(5), 429–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng, F., Chen, D., Tsai, C., & Chai, C. (2011). Students’ views of the nature of science: A critical review of the literature. Science Education, 95(6), 961–999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobzhansky, T. (1973). Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution. The American Biology Teacher, 35(3), 125–129. https://doi.org/10.2307/4444260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Driver, R., Leach, J., Millar, R., & Scott, P. (1996). Young peoples’ images of science. Buckingham: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duschl, R. A. (1990). Restructuring science education: The importance of theories and their development. New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duschl, R. A. (1994). Research on the history and philosophy of science. In L. G. Dorothy (Ed.), Handbook of research on science teaching and learning (pp. 445–455). New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Einstein, A. (1934/1982). ‘On the method of theoretical physics’, Herbert Spencer lecture delivered at Oxford, June 10, 1933. Mein Welbild (1934), Amsterdam: Querido Verlag. “Ideas and Opinions” (1982) New York: Crown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elmer-Dewitt, P. (1994). Don’t tread on my lab. Time, 143, 44–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman, B.C. (2015). The influence of global warming science views and sociocultural factors on willingness to mitigate global warming. Science Education 99(1), 1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman, B. C., Clough, M. P., & Olson, J. K. (2013). Teachers’ NOS implementation practices two to five years after having completed an intensive science education program. Science Education, 97(2), 271–309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman, B. C. (2018). Students’ environmental NOS views, compassion, intent, and action: Impact of place-based socioscientific issues instruction. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 55(4), 600–638.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman, B. C., Olson, J. K., & Clough, M. P. (2019a). The role of informal support networks in teaching the nature of science. Research in Science Education, 49, 191–218. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-016-9610-2.

  • Herman, B. C., Owens, D. C., Oertli, R. T., Zangori, L. A., & Newton, M. H. (2019b). Exploring the complexity of students’ scientific explanations and associated NOS views within a place-based socioscientific issue context. Science and Education, 28(3), 329–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herron, M. D. (1969). Nature of science: Panacea or Pandora’s box. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 6, 105–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodson, D. (1986). Rethinking the role and status of observation in science curriculum. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 18, 381–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodson, D. (1988). Toward a philosophically more valid science curriculum. Science Education, 72, 19–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodson, D. (1991). The role of philosophy in science teaching. In M. R. Matthews (Ed.), History, philosophy and science teaching: Selected readings. New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodson, D. (2014). Nature of science in the science curriculum: Origin, development, implications and shifting emphases. In M. R. Matthews (Ed.), International handbook of research in history, philosophy and science teaching (pp. 911–970). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollon, R., Roth, K. J., & Anderson, C. W. (1991). Science teachers’ conceptions of teaching and learning. In J. Brophy (Ed.), Advances in research on teaching: Teachers’ knowledge of subject matter as it related to their teaching practice (Vol. 2, pp. 145–185). Greenwich: Jai Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holton, G. (2000). The project physics course, then and now. Science & Education, 12, 779–786.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong, H., & Lin-Siegler, X. (2012). How learning about scientists’ struggles influences students’ interest and learning in physics. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104(2), 469–484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Höttecke, D., & Silva, C. C. (2011). Why implementing history and philosophy in school science education is a challenge: An analysis of obstacles. Science & Education, 20(3–4), 293–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurd, P. D. H. (1960). Summary. In N. B. Henry (Ed.), Rethinking science education: The fifty-ninth year-book of the National Society for the study of education (pp. 33–38). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe, B. (1938). The history of chemistry and its place in the teaching of chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 15, 383–389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. L., & Peeples, E. E. (1987). The role of scientific understanding in college. The American Biology Teacher, 49, 93–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klopfer, L. (1964–1966). History of science cases (HOSC), Chicago, Science Research Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kötter, M., & Hammann, M. (2017). Controversy as a blind spot in teaching nature of science. Science & Education, 26, 451–482.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laudan, L., Donovan, A., Laudan, R., Barker, P., Brown, H., Leplin, J., Thagard, P., & Wykstra, S. (1986 November). Testing theories of scientific change (Synthese, vol 69(2), pp. 141–223). Dordrecht: D. Reidel Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lederman, N. G. (2002). The state of science education: Subject matter without context. Electronic Journal of Science Education, 3(2). unr.edu/homepage/jcannon/ejse/ejse.html.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lederman, N. G. (2007). Nature of science: Past, present, and future. In S. K. Abell & N. G. Lederman (Eds.), Handbook of research on science education. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lederman, N. G., & Lederman, J. S. (2014). Research on teaching and learning of nature of science. In N. Lederman & S. Abell (Eds.), Handbook of research on science education (pp. 600–620). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, M. R. (1972). Concepts of science education: A philosophical analysis. Greenview: Scott, Foresman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, M. R. (1989). A role for history and philosophy in science teaching. Interchange, 20, 3–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, M. R. (1994). History, philosophy, and science teaching: A useful alliance. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, M. R. (1997). Editorial. Science & Education, 6, 323–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, M. R. (1998). In defense of modest goals when teaching about the nature of science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 35(2), 161–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, M. R. (2012). Changing the focus: From nature of science (NOS) to features of science (FOS). In M. S. Khine (Ed.), Advances in nature of science research: Concepts and methodologies (pp. 3–26). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, M. R. (Ed.). (2014). International handbook of research in history, philosophy and science teaching. Boston: Springer Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, M. R. (2015). Science teaching: The contributions of history and philosophy of science. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCain, G., & Segal, E. M. (1982). The game of science. Belmont: Wadsworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • McComas, W. F. (1998). The principal elements of the nature of science: Dispelling the myths. In W. F. McComas (Ed.), The nature of science in science education: Rationales and strategies (pp. 53–73). Boston: Kluwer (Springer) Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • McComas, W. F. (2004). Keys to teaching the nature of science: Focusing on the nature of science in the science classroom. The Science Teacher, 71(9), 24–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • McComas, W. F., & Nouri, N. (2016). The nature of science and the next generation science standards: Analysis and critique. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 27(5), 555–576.

    Google Scholar 

  • McComas, W. F., Clough, M. P., & Almazroa, H. (1998). The role and character of the nature of science in science education. In W. F. McComas (Ed.), The nature of science in science education: Rationales and strategies (pp. 3–39). Boston: Kluwer (Springer) Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Academy of Sciences. (1998). Teaching about evolution and the nature of science. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Academy of Sciences and Institutes of Medicine. (2008). Science, evolution and creationism. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council. (1996). National science education standards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Science Teachers Association. (1995). A high school framework for national science education standards. Arlington: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Science Teachers Association. (2000). NSTA position statement: The nature of science. Retrieved from: http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/natureofscience.aspx

  • National Science Teachers Association. (2012). 2012 NSTA standards for science teacher preparation. Retrieved from: http://www.nsta.org/preservice/

  • Nouri, N., McComas, W. F., Saberi, M., & Oramous, J. (2017, January). Focus and trends in nature of science research during the past twenty years. Annual Meeting of the Association for Science Teacher Education. 2017, January. Des Moines, IA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, J. K. (2018). The inclusion of the nature of science in nine recent international science education standards documents. Science & Education, 27, 637–660. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-018-9993-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne, J., Collins, S., Ratcliffe, M., Millar, R., & Duschl, R. (2003). What “ideas-about-science” should be taught in school science? A Delphi study of the expert community. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 40(7), 692–720.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid-Smith, J. A. (2013). Historical short stories as nature of science instruction in secondary science classrooms: Science teachers’ implementation and students’ reactions. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/13633

  • Robinson, J. T. (1968). The nature of science and science teaching. Belmont: Wadsworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph, J. L., & Stewart, J. (1998). Evolution and the nature of science: On the historical discord and its implications for education. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 35(10), 1069–1089.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutherford, F. J., Holden, G., & Walton, F. G. (1970). Project physics. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutledge, M. L., & Warden, M. A. (2000). Evolutionary theory, the nature of science and high school biology teachers: Critical relationships. American Biology Teacher, 62(1), 23–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, A. G., & Aikenhead, G. S. (1992). Students’ preconceptions about the epistemology of science. Science Education, 76(6), 559–580.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwab, J. J. (1964). The teaching of science as enquiry. In J. J. Schwab & P. F. Brandwein (Eds.), The teaching of science (pp. 31–102). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shamos, M. (1995). The myth of scientific literacy. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shulman, L. S. (1986). Those who understand: Knowledge growth in teaching. Educational Researcher, 15, 4–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M. U. (2000). The current status of research in teaching evolution II. Pedagogical issues. Science & Education, 19(6–8), 539–571.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley, M. (2016). Why should physicists study history? Physics Today, 69(7), 38–44. https://doi.org/10.1063/PT.3.3235

  • Tobias, S. (1990). They’re not dumb: They’re different: Stalking the second tier. Tucson: Research Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyson, N. DeG. (2011, January 20). The moon, the tides and why Neil DeGrasse Tyson is Colbert’s god: A conversation about communicating science, The Science Network. http://thesciencenetwork.org/programs/the-science-studio/neil-degrasse-tyson-2. Retrieved 17 October 2018.

  • van Dijk, E. M. (2011). Portraying real science in science communication. Science Education, 95, 1086–1100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wandersee, J. (1986). Can the history of science help science educators anticipate students’ misconceptions? Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 23, 581–597.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welch, W. W. (1984). A science-based approach to science learning. In D. Holdzkom & P. B. Lutz (Eds.), Research within reach: Science education (pp. 161–170). Washington, DC: National Science Teachers’ Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westaway, F. W. (1929). Science teaching: What it was – What it is – What it might be. London: Blackie and Son, Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to William F. McComas or Michael P. Clough .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

McComas, W.F., Clough, M.P. (2020). Nature of Science in Science Instruction: Meaning, Advocacy, Rationales, and Recommendations. In: McComas, W.F. (eds) Nature of Science in Science Instruction. Science: Philosophy, History and Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57239-6_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57239-6_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-57238-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-57239-6

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics