Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Using Situational Interest to Enhance Individual Interest and Science-Related Behaviours

  • Published:
Research in Science Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Situational interest is a relatively transient reaction to highly stimulating factors in the immediate environment, whereas individual interest is a relatively long-term preference for a particular subject or activity. It has been proposed that regular experiences of situational interest in a subject may eventually lead to the development of individual interest in that subject. Importantly, this should also result in an increase in behaviours related to that domain. For example, a student who develops an individual interest in science would be expected to spend more time on science-related activities such as reading about science, talking with other people about science, or watching science shows on TV. However, the extent to which this does happen has not yet been established. The purposes of this study were to find out whether regular experiences of situational interest in science classes can enhance individual interest in science and whether there is an associated increase in science-related activities. The participants were primary teacher education students who were enrolled in a semester-length science course. Data were collected using a survey, an interest inventory, open-ended questionnaires and interviews. It was found that regular experiences of situational interest during the course were associated with positive changes in individual interest in science and increased participation in science-related activities. These changes remained relatively stable over a delay period of 10 months after the end of the course.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ainley, M., Hidi, S., & Berndorff, D. (2002). Interest, learning, and the psychological processes that mediate their relationship. Journal of Educational Psychology, 94, 545–561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, P. A., & Jetton, T. L. (1996). The role of importance and interest in the processing of text. Educational Psychology Review, 8, 89–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, P. A., Kulikowich, J. M., & Jetton, T. L. (1994). The role of subject-matter knowledge and interest in the processing of linear and nonlinear texts. Review of Educational Research, 64, 201–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton, A. C., Kang, H., Tan, E., O’Neill, T. B., Bautista-Guerra, J., & Brecklin, C. (2013). Crafting a future in science: tracing middle school girls’ identity work over time and space. American Educational Research Journal, 50, 37–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brickhouse, N. W., Lowery, P., & Schultz, K. (2000). What kind of a girl does science? The construction of school science identities. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 37, 441–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bulunuz, M., & Jarrett, O. S. (2010). Developing an interest in science: background experiences of preservice primary teachers. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 5, 65–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bulunuz, M., Jarrett, O. S., & Martin-Hansen, L. (2012). Level of inquiry as motivator in an inquiry methods course for preservice primary teachers. School Science and Mathematics, 112(6), 330–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chawla, L. (1998). Significant life experiences revisited: a review of research on sources of environmental sensitivity. The Journal of Environmental Education, 29, 11–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, I. Y., & Chen, N.-S. (2009). Examining the factors influencing participants’ knowledge sharing behaviour in virtual learning communities. Educational Technology & Society, 12, 134–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Favero, L., Boscolo, P., Vidotto, G., & Vicentini, M. (2007). Classroom discussion and individual problem-solving in the teaching of history: do different instructional approaches affect interest in different ways? Learning and Instruction, 17(6), 635–657.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dohn, N. B. (2011). Situational interest of high school students who visit an aquarium. Science Education, 95, 337–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dohn, N. B., Madsen, P. T., & Malte, H. (2009). The situational interest of undergraduate students in zoophysiology. Advances in Physiology Education, 33, 196–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durik, A. M., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (2007). Different strokes for different folks: how individual interest moderates the effects of situational factors on task interest. Journal of Educational Psychology, 99, 597–610.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fortus, D., & Vedder-Weiss, D. (2014). Measuring students’ continuing motivation for science learning. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 51, 497–522.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frenzel, A. C., Goetz, T., Pekrun, R., & Watt, H. M. (2010). Development of mathematics interest in adolescence: influences of gender, family, and school context. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 20, 507–537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harackiewicz, J. M., Durik, A. M., Barron, K. E., Linnenbrink-Garcia, L., & Tauer, J. M. (2008). The role of achievement goals in the development of interest: reciprocal relations between achievement goals, interest, and performance. Journal of Educational Psychology, 100, 105–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hidi, S. (1990). Interest and its contribution as a mental resource for learning. Review of Educational Research, 60, 549–571.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hidi, S. (2001). Interest, reading, and learning: theoretical and practical considerations. Educational Psychology Review, 13, 191–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hidi, S., & Anderson, V. (1992). Situational interest and its impact on reading and expository writing. In K. A. Renninger, S. Hidi, & A. Krapp (Eds.), The role of interest in learning and development (pp. 215–238). Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hidi, S., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (2000). Motivating the academically unmotivated: a critical issue for the 21st Century. Review of Educational Research, 70, 151–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hidi, S., & Renninger, K. A. (2006). The four-phase model of interest development. Educational Psychologist, 41(2), 111–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarrett, O. S. (1999). Science interest and confidence among preservice primary teachers. Journal of Primary Science Education, 11, 47–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnenbrink-Garcia, L., Durik, A. M., Conley, A. M., Barron, K. E., Tauer, J. M., Karabenick, S. A., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (2010). Measuring situational interest in academic domains. Psychological Measurement, 70, 647–671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linnenbrink-Garcia, L., Pugh, K. J., Koskey, K. L., & Stewart, V. C. (2012). Developing conceptual understanding of natural selection: the role of interest, efficacy, and basic prior knowledge. Journal of Experimental Education, 80, 45–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Logtenberg, A., van Boxtel, C., & van Hout-Wolters, B. (2011). Stimulating situational interest and student questioning through three types of historical introductory texts. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 26, 179–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMillan, J. H., & Schumacher, S. (2006). Research in education: evidence-based inquiry (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, M. (1993). Situational interest: its multifaceted structure in the secondary school mathematics classroom. Journal of Educational Psychology, 85, 424–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, M. (1997, March). Situational interest in the statistics classroom. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.

  • Monzack, E. L., & Zenner Petersen, G. M. (2011). Using an informal cardiovascular system activity to study the effectiveness of science education in unexpected places. Research in Science Education, 41, 453–460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nieswandt, M. (2007). Student affect and conceptual understanding in learning chemistry. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 44, 908–937.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Randler, C., & Bogner, F. X. (2007). Pupils’ interest before, during, and after a curriculum dealing with ecological topics and its relationship to achievement. Educational Research and Evaluation, 13(5), 463–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren, F., Li, X., Zhang, H., & Wang, L. (2012). Progression of Chinese students’ creative imagination from primary through high school. International Journal of Science Education, 34, 2043–2059.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rennie, L. J., Goodrum, D., & Hackling, M. (2001). Science teaching and learning in Australian schools: results of a national study. Research in Science Education, 31, 455–498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renninger, K. A., & Hidi, S. (2011). Revisiting the conceptualization, measurement, and generation of interest. Educational Psychologist, 46(3), 168–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schibeci, R. A., & Hickey, R. L. (2004). Dimensions of autonomy: primary teachers’ decisions about involvement in science professional development. Science Education, 88, 119–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schraw, G., & Lehman, S. (2001). Situational interest: a review of the literature and directions for future research. Educational Psychology Review, 13, 23–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, J. C.-Y., & Rueda, R. (2012). Situational interest, computer self-efficacy and self-regulation: their impact on student engagement in distance education. British Journal of Educational Technology, 43(2), 191–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tapola, A., Veermans, M., & Niemivirta, M. (2013). Predictors and outcomes of situational interest during a science learning task. Instructional Science, 41, 1047–1064.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taskinen, P. H., Schütte, K., & Prenzel, M. (2013). Adolescents’ motivation to select an academic science-related career: the role of school factors, individual interest, and science self-concept. Educational Research and Evaluation, 19, 717–733.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tobias, S. (1994). Interest, prior knowledge, and learning. Review of Educational Research, 64, 37–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    David Palmer, Jeanette Dixon & Jennifer Archer

Authors
  1. David Palmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeanette Dixon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jennifer Archer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Palmer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Palmer, D., Dixon, J. & Archer, J. Using Situational Interest to Enhance Individual Interest and Science-Related Behaviours. Res Sci Educ 47, 731–753 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-016-9526-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-016-9526-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation