Skip to main content

The Effect of Using Drama in Science Teaching on Students’ Conceptions of the Nature of Science

  • Chapter
Research and the Quality of Science Education

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of using drama as a supporting learning strategy on students’ conceptions of the nature of science (NOS). Participants were 32 grade 10 and 11 students from a private all-girls’ school in Beirut, Lebanon. Fourteen students chose to participate in the extracurricular drama activity. The remaining 18 students were considered the control group and required only to attend the culminating performances. The drama group met for 36 hours over the course of 12 weeks to write scripts about the development of the concept of light using the work of four scientists. Data sources included open-ended questions about the tentative, empirical, and theory-laden NOS, group discussions, interviews, and researchers’ field notes and reflections. Results showed that the drama group students exhibited more informed views than the control group about the targeted aspects of NOS.

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 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 239.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
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

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abd-El-Khalick (1998). The influence of history of science courses on students’ conceptions of the nature of science. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Oregon State University, Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abd-El-Khalick, F., Bell, R., & Lederman, N. G. (1998). The nature of science and instructional practices: Making the unnatural natural. Science Education, 82, 417–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, C. (1987, May). The role of education in the academic disciplines in teacher preparation. Paper presented at the Rutgers Invitational Symposium on Education: The Graduate Preparation of Teachers. New Brunswick, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, S., & Watson, R. (1998). Establishing basis for ecological understanding in younger pupils: A pupil evaluation of a strategy based on drama/role play. Science Education, 20, 139–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Budzinsky, F. (1995). Chemistry on stage: A strategy for integrating science and dramatic arts. School Science and Mathematics, 95, 406–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, A., & Lawson, A. (1992). The nature of scientific thinking as reflected by the work of biologists and by biological textbooks. The American Biology Teacher, 54, 137–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lederman, N., & O’Malley, M., (1990). Students’ perceptions of tentativeness in science: Development, use, and sources of change. Science Education, 74, 225–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lederman, N. (1992). Students’ and teachers’ conceptions of the nature of science: A review of the research. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 29, 331–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lederman, N. G., Abd-El-Khalick, F., Bell, R. L., & Schwartz, R. (2002). Views of nature of science questionnaire (VNOS): Toward valid and meaningful assessment of learners’ conceptions of nature of science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 39(6), 497–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McComas, W. (1996). Ten myths of science: Reexamining what we think we know about the nature of science. School Science and Mathematics, 96, 10–15. Table 1. Drama Group’s Pre and Post-Drama Views of the Tentative, Empirical, and Theory-laden NOS

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2005 Springer

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Boujaoude, S., Sowwan, S., Abd-El-Khalick, F. (2005). The Effect of Using Drama in Science Teaching on Students’ Conceptions of the Nature of Science. In: Boersma, K., Goedhart, M., de Jong, O., Eijkelhof, H. (eds) Research and the Quality of Science Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3673-6_21

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics