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Students’ Sense of School Belonging and Attitude towards Science: a Cross-Cultural Examination

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Abstract

The present study examined data from the 2015 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study to address cross-cultural differences in 4th grade students’ attitudes towards science and how students’ sense of school belonging (SSSB) scores were related to attitude towards science. Regression results indicated that SSSB emerged as a significant, positive predictor of Students Like Learning Science (SLS) and Students Confident in Science (SCS) scale scores across countries. Additionally, statistically significant moderating effects for Taiwan were evident for the relationship between SSSB and both SLS and SCS scores. Specifically, when compared with students in the USA, the positive effect of SSSB on these attitudinal outcomes was less pronounced among students in Taiwan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Illinois University, College of Education, 204C Gabel Hall, DeKalb, IL, 60015, USA

    Thomas J. Smith, David A. Walker & Hsiang-Ting Chen

  2. National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Zuway-R. Hong

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  1. Thomas J. Smith
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Correspondence to Thomas J. Smith.

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Smith, T.J., Walker, D.A., Chen, HT. et al. Students’ Sense of School Belonging and Attitude towards Science: a Cross-Cultural Examination. Int J of Sci and Math Educ 18, 855–867 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-019-10002-7

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