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Undergraduates’ Attitudes Toward Science and Their Epistemological Beliefs: Positive Effects of Certainty and Authority Beliefs

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Abstract

Attitudes toward science are an important aspect of students’ persistence in school science and interest in pursuing future science careers, but students’ attitudes typically decline over the course of formal schooling. This study examines relationships of students’ attitudes toward science with their perceptions of science as inclusive or non-religious, and their epistemological beliefs about epistemic authority and certainty. Data were collected using an online survey system among undergraduates at a large, public US university (n = 582). Data were prepared using a Rasch rating scale model and then analyzed using multiple-regression analysis. Gender and number of science and mathematics courses were included as control variables, followed by perceptions of science, then epistemological beliefs. Findings show that respondents have more positive attitudes when they perceive science to be inclusive of women and minorities, and when they perceive science to be incompatible with religion. Respondents also have more positive attitudes toward science when they believe scientific knowledge is uncertain, and when they believe knowledge derives from authority. Interpretations of these findings and implications for future research are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

Many thanks to David Treagust and Fouad Abd-el-Khalick for their feedback on an early draft, as well as the comments and suggestions provided by anonymous reviewers. Many thanks also to C. Ashley Fulmer (National University of Singapore) and Cheri Ostroff (University of South Australia) for their support of the data collection effort. Portions of this work were conducted while the author was employed by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and supported by the NSF’s Independent Research and Development program. Any findings or conclusions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position or policies of the NSF.

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  1. National Institute of Education (Singapore), 1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore, 637616, Singapore

    Gavin W. Fulmer

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Correspondence to Gavin W. Fulmer.

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Fulmer, G.W. Undergraduates’ Attitudes Toward Science and Their Epistemological Beliefs: Positive Effects of Certainty and Authority Beliefs. J Sci Educ Technol 23, 198–206 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-013-9463-7

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