UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF SCIENCE: THE PERCEPTION OF SCIENCE AND SCIENCE EDUCATION UNDERGRADUATES IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, AND GRADUATE SCIENCE TEACHERS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES IN KADUNA AND ZARIA, NIGERIA,
UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF SCIENCE: THE PERCEPTION OF SCIENCE AND SCIENCE EDUCATION UNDERGRADUATES IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, AND GRADUATE SCIENCE TEACHERS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES IN KADUNA AND ZARIA, NIGERIA,
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Date
1979
Authors
CLEMENT, ONYEKE ABAH
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Abstract
The development of understanding of the nature of
science is today considered a very important science
teaching aim in many parts of the v/orld for several
reasons. But, in Nigeria, this science teaching aim is
almost totally neglected in science education, and there
has been no report of research into the level of
understanding of the nature of science in respect of any
populations in the Nigerian educational scene.
In view of the foregoing, this study was designed
to provide information regarding understanding of the
nature of science among science and science education
undergraduates in a Nigerian university (Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria), and graduate science teachers in
secondary schools and colleges in Kaduna and Zaria,
Kaduna State, Nigeria. The following major findings
were obtained: (1) There were indications of the
existence of room for improvement in the general level
of understanding of the nature of science expressed by
the populations studied. (2) There was a significant
difference (.05 level of confidence) in the level of
understanding of the nature of science expressed by
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science education undergraduates and that expressed by
science undergraduates, with the science education
undergraduates showing a better understanding of the
nature of science than the science undergraduates.
(3) Science undergraduates did not differ significantly
in their understanding of the nature of science as a
function of their subjects of specialization. (4) There
was a significant difference (.05 level of confidence)
in understanding of the nature of science as expressed
by graduate science teachers with professional teaching
qualification and graduate science teachers without
professional teaching qualification, with the former
showing a better understanding of the nature of science
than the latter. (5) No significant difference was
found in understanding of the nature of science as
expressed by graduate science teachers with long teaching
experience and graduate science teachers with short
teaching experience.
Many of the findings of this study led to the
suggestion that instructions in the philosophy of science
may be a good way of improving understanding of the nature
of science, and that this could be particularly effective
during undergraduate training. It was also suggested that
private reading as well as in-service training could be good
ways of improving understanding of the nature of science
among practicing science teachers.
Description
A THESIS
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF EDUCATION
IN
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
(SCIENCE)
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA
1979.
Keywords
UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF SCIENCE, THE PERCEPTION OF SCIENCE, SCIENCE EDUCATION, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA