Abstract
This article reports a cross-national study of classroom environments in Australia and Indonesia. A modified version of the What Is Happening In this Class? (WIHIC) questionnaire was used simultaneously in these two countries to: 1) crossvalidate the modified WIHIC; 2) investigate differences between countries and sexes in perceptions of classroom environment; and 3) investigate associations between students’ attitudes to science and their perceptions of classroom environment. The sample consisted of 1,161 students (594 students from 18 classes in Indonesia and 567 students from 18 classes in Australia). Principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation supported the validity of a revised structure for the WIHIC. Two-way MANOVA revealed some differences between countries and between sexes in students’ perceptions of their classroom environments. Simple correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed generally positive associations between the classroom environment and student attitudes to science in both countries.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abell, S. K., & Lederman, N. G. (eds). (2007). Handbook of research on science education. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Aldridge, J. M., & Fraser, B. J. (2000). A cross-national study of classroom environments in Taiwan and Australia. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 3, 101–134.
Aldridge, J. M., & Fraser, B. J. (2008). Outcomes-focused learning environments: Determinants and effects (Advances in Learning Environments Research series). Rotterdam: Sense.
Aldridge, J. M., Fraser, B. J., & Huang, I. T. C. (1999). Investigating classroom environment in Taiwan and Australia with multiple research methods. Journal of Educational Research, 93, 48–62.
Aldridge, J. M., Fraser, B. J., & Sebela, M. P. (2004). Using teacher action research to promote constructivist learning environments in South Africa. South African Journal of Education, 24, 245–253.
Allen, D. V., & Fraser, B. J. (2007). Parent and student perceptions of classroom learning environment and its association with student outcomes. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 10, 67–82.
Anderson, L. W. (1995). International encyclopaedia of teaching and teacher education (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Brislin, R. W. (1970). Back translation for cross-cultural research. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 1, 185–216.
Brislin, R. W. (1983). Cross-cultural research in psychology. Annual Review of Psychology, 34, 363–400.
Burden, R., & Fraser, B. J. (1993). Use of classroom environment assessments in school psychology: A British perspective. Psychology in the Schools, 30, 232–240.
Chionh, Y. H., & Fraser, B. J. (2009). Classroom environment, achievement, attitudes and self esteem in geography and mathematics in Singapore. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education.
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. New York: Academic.
Crano, W. D., & Prislin, R. (2006). Attitudes and persuation. Annual Review of Psychology, 57, 345–374.
den Brok, P., Brekelmans, M., & Wubbels, T. (2004). Interpersonal teacher behavior and student outcomes. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 15, 407–442.
den Brok, P., Telli, S., Cakiroglu, J., & Tekkaya, C. (2008). Students’ perceptions of their biology classroom learning environments: A study on typology of learning environments. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York, NY.
Dorman, J. P. (2009). Cross-national validation of the What Is Happening In this Class? (WIHIC) questionnaire using confirmatory factor analysis. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 6, 231–245.
Dorman, J. P. (2003). Use of multitrait-multimethod modeling to validate actual and preferred forms of the What is Happening In this Class (WIHIC) questionnaire. Learning Environment Research: An International Journal.
Dorman, J. P., Aldridge, J. M., & Fraser, B. J. (2006). Using students’ assessment of classroom environment to develop a typology of secondary school classrooms. International Education Journal, 7, 906–915.
Eiser, J. R. (ed). (1984). Attitudinal judgment. New York: Springer-Verlag.
Escotet, M. A. (1973). Cross-cultural research methodology in education. Paper presented at the National Convention of the Comparative and International Education Society, San Antonio, TX.
Ferguson, P. D., & Fraser, B. J. (1999). Changes in learning environment during the transition from primary to secondary school. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 1, 369–383.
Fisher, D. L., & Fraser, B. J. (1983). A comparison of actual and preferred classroom environment as perceived by science teachers and students. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 20, 55–61.
Fisher, D. L., & Khine, M. S. (eds). (2006). Contemporary approaches to research on learning environments: Worldviews. Singapore: World Scientific.
Fraser, B. J. (1978). Development of a test of science related attitudes. Science Education, 62, 509–515.
Fraser, B. J. (1981). Test of Science-Related Attitudes (TOSRA). Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.
Fraser, B. J. (1996). NARST’s expansion, internationalization, and cross nationalization: History in the making. Presidential address at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, St Louis, MO.
Fraser, B. J. (1998a). Science leaning environments: Assessment, effects and determinants. In B. J. Fraser & K. G. Tobin (Eds.), The international handbook of science education (pp. 527–564). Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic.
Fraser, B. J. (1998b). Classroom environment instruments: Development, validity and applications. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 1, 7–33.
Fraser, B. J. (1998c). The birth of a new journal: Editor’s introduction. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 1, 1–5.
Fraser, B. J. (1999). “Grain sizes” in learning environment research: Combining qualitative and quantitative methods. In H. C. Waxman & H. J. Walberg (Eds.), New directions for teaching practice and research (pp. 285–296). Berkeley: McCutchan.
Fraser, B. J. (2002). Learning environments research: Yesterday, today and tomorrow. In S. C. Goh & M. S. Khine (Eds.), Studies in educational environments: An international perspective (pp. 1–25). Singapore: World Scientific.
Fraser, B. J. (2007). Classroom learning environments. In S. K. Abell & N. G. Lederman (Eds.), Handbook of research on science education (pp. 103–124). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Fraser, B. J., & Butts, W. L. (1982). Relationship between perceived levels of classroom individualization and science-related attitudes. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 19, 143–154.
Fraser, B. J., & Fisher, D. L. (1982). Predicting student outcomes from their perceptions of classroom psychosocial environment. American Educational Research Journal, 19, 498–518.
Fraser, B. J., & Tobin, K. (1989). Student perceptions of psychosocial environments in classrooms of exemplary science teachers. International Journal of Science Education, 11, 14–34.
Fraser, B. J., & Tobin, K. (1991). Combining qualitative and quantitative methods in classroom environment research. In B. J. Fraser & H. J. Walberg (Eds.), Educational environments: Evaluation, antecedents and consequences (pp. 271–292). London: Pergamon.
Fraser, B. J., & Walberg, H. J. (eds). (1991). Educational environments: Evaluation, antecedents, and consequences. London: Pergamon.
Fraser, B. J., & Tobin, K. (eds). (1998). The international handbook of science education. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic.
Getzels, J. W., & Thelen, H. A. (1960). The classroom as a unique social system. In N. B. Henry (Ed.), The dynamics of instructional groups: Sociopsychological aspects of teaching and learning (Fifty-ninth Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education, Part 2 (pp. 53–82). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Haertel, G. D., Walberg, H. J., & Haertel, E. H. (1981). Socio-psychological environments and learning: A quantitative synthesis. British Educational Research Journal, 7, 27–36.
Husen, T., & Postlethwaite, T. N. (eds). (1994). The international encyclopedia of education (2nd ed.). Oxford: Pergamon.
Joyce, B. A., & Farenga, S. J. (1999). Informal science experience, attitudes, future interest in science and gender of high ability students: An exploratory study. School Science and Mathematics, 99, 431–437.
Kalili, K. Y. (1987). A crosscultural validation of a test of science related attitudes. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 24, 127–136.
Khine, M. S., & Fisher, D. L. (eds). (2003). Technology-rich learning environments: A future perspective. Singapore: World Scientific.
Khoo, H. S., & Fraser, B. J. (2008). Using classroom psychosocial environment in the evaluation of adult computer application courses in Singapore. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 17, 53–67.
Kim, H. B., Fisher, D. L., & Fraser, B. J. (2000). Classroom environment and teacher interpersonal behaviour in secondary science classes in Korea. Evaluation and Research in Education, 14, 3–22.
Kind, P. K., Jones, K., & Barmby, P. (2007). Developing attitudes towards science measures. International Journal of Science Education, 29, 871–893.
Klopfer, L. E. (1971). Evaluation of learning in science. In B. S. Bloom, J. T. Hastings & G. F. Madaus (Eds.), Handbook on formative and summative evaluation of student learning (pp. 559–642). New York: McGraw Hill.
Koul, R. B., & Fisher, D. L. (2005). Cultural background and students’ perceptions of science classroom learning environment and teacher interpersonal behaviour in Jammu, India. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 8, 195–211.
Lewin, K. (1936). Principals of topological psychology. New York: McGraw.
Lott, K. (2002). The evaluation of a statewide in-service and outreach program: Preliminary findings. ERIC Document # ED465509.
Margianti, E. S., Aldridge, J. M.., & Fraser, B. J. (2004). Learning environment perceptions, attitudes and achievement among private Indonesian university students. International Journal of Private Higher Education [online]. Retrieved from: www.xaiu.com/xaiujournal
Martin-Dunlop, C., & Fraser, B. J. (2008). Learning environment attitudes associated with an innovative science course designed for prospective elementary teachers. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 6, 163–190.
McRobbie, C. J., & Fraser, B. J. (1993). Associations between student outcomes and psychosocial science environment. Journal of Education Research, 87, 78–85.
Mead, M. (1964). Anthropology: A human science. Princeton: Van Nostrand.
Moos, R. H. (1974). The social climate scales: An overview. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists.
Moos, R. H., & Trickett, E. J. (1987). Classroom environment scale manual (2nd ed.). Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists.
Murray, H. A. (1938). Explorations in personality. New York: Oxford University Press.
Mueller, D. J. (1986). Measuring social attitudes. New York: Teacher College Press, Columbia University.
Munby, H. (1983). An investigation into the measurement of attitudes in science education. Columbus, OH: Ohio State University. ERIC Document # ED237347.
Munby, H. (1997). Issues of validity in science attitude measurement. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 34, 337–341.
OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). (2006). Assessing scientific, reading and mathematical literacy. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).
Ogbuehi, P. I., & Fraser, B. J. (2007). Learning environment, attitudes and conceptual development associated with innovative strategies in middle-school mathematics. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 10, 101–114.
Osborne, J., Simons, S., & Collins, S. (2003). Attitudes towards science: A review of the literature and its implication. International Journal of Science Education, 25, 1049–1079.
Raaflaub, C. A., & Fraser, B. J. (2002). Investigating the learning environment in Canadian mathematics and science classrooms in which laptop computers are used. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.
Reid, N. (2006). Thoughts on attitude measurement. Research in Science and Technological Education, 24, 3–27.
Riah, H., & Fraser, B. J. (1998). Chemistry learning environment and its association with students’ achievement in chemistry. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.
Scantlebury, K., Boone, W., Kahle, J. B., & Fraser, B. J. (2001). Design, validation, and use of an evaluation instrument for monitoring systemic reform. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 38, 646–662.
Schibeci, R. A., & McGaw, B. (1981). Empirical validation of the conceptual structure of the Test of Science Related Attitudes. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 41, 1195–1201.
Sink, C. A., & Spencer, L. R. (2005). My class inventory-short form as an accountability tool for elementary school counselors to measure classroom climate. Professional School Counseling, 9, 37–48.
Stern, G. G. (1970). People in context: Measuring person-environment congruence in education and industry. New York: Wiley.
Stevens, J. P. (1992). Applied multivariate statistics for the social sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Telli, S., Cakiroglu, J., & den Brok, P. (2006). Turkish secondary education students’ perceptions of their classroom learning environment and their attitude towards Biology. In D. L. Fisher & M. S. Khine (Eds.), Contemporary approaches to research on learning environments: World views (pp. 517–542). Singapore: World Scientific.
Thompson, B. (1998a). Review of ‘What if there were no significance tests?’. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 58, 334–346.
Thompson, B. (1998b). Five methodology errors in educational research: The pantheon of statistical significance and other faux pas. Invited address presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.
Tobin, K., & Fraser, B. J. (1998). Qualitative and quantitative landscapes of classroom learning environments. In B. J. Fraser & K. G. Tobin (Eds.), The international handbook of science education (pp. 633–640). Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic.
Tobin, K., Kahle, J. B., & Fraser, B. J. (eds). (1990). Windows into science classes: Problems associated with-higher level cognitive learning. London: Falmer.
Wahyudi, W., & Treagust, D. F. (2004). The status of science classroom learning environments in Indonesian lower secondary schools. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 7, 43–63.
Walberg, H. J. (ed). (1979). Educational environments and effects: Evaluation, policy, and productivity. Berkeley: McCutchan.
Walberg, H. J. (1981). A psychological theory of educational productivity. In F. Farley & N. J. Gordon (Eds.), Psychology and education: The state of the union (pp. 81–108). Berkeley: McCutchan.
Walberg, H. J., & Anderson, G. J. (1968). Classroom climate and individual learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 59, 414–419.
White, J. A. R., & Richardson, G. D. (1993). Comparison of science attitudes among middle and junior high school students. ERIC Document # ED368559.
Wolf, S. J., & Fraser, B. J. (2008). Learning environment, attitudes and achievement among middle-school science students using inquiry-based laboratory activities. Research in Science Education, 38, 321–341.
Wong, A. F. L., & Fraser, B. J. (1996). Environment-attitude associations in the chemistry laboratory classroom. Research in Science and Technological Education, 14, 91–102.
Wong, A. F. L., Young, D. J., & Fraser, B. J. (1997). A multilevel analysis of learning environments and student attitudes. Educational Psychology, 17, 449–468.
Yarrow, A., & Millwater, J. (1995). SMILE: Student Modification In Learning Environments - Establishing congruence between actual and preferred classroom learning environment. Journal of Classroom Interaction, 30(1), 11–15.
Zandvliet, D. B., & Fraser, B. J. (2004). Learning environments in information and communications technology classrooms. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 13, 97–123.
Zandvliet, D. B., & Fraser, B. J. (2005). Physical and psychosocial environments associated with networked classrooms. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 8, 1–17.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fraser, B.J., Aldridge, J.M. & Adolphe, F.S.G. A Cross-National Study of Secondary Science Classroom Environments in Australia and Indonesia. Res Sci Educ 40, 551–571 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-009-9133-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-009-9133-1