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  • Thinking and Practicing Like a Scientist?: Examining K-12 Student Mental Images of Scientists through a Large-Scale Survey-Based Study
Title: Thinking and Practicing Like a Scientist?: Examining K-12 Student Mental Images of Scientists through a Large-Scale Survey-Based Study
Abstract This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable instrument, the Mental Images of Scientists Questionnaire (MISQ), and use the instrument to examine Chinese students’ mental images of scientists’ characters across school levels, regions, living settings, and gender. The final version of theMISQconsisted of four constructs: scientists’ cognitive, affective, lifestyle, and job characters. The results showed that senior high school students gave higher scores for scientists’ cognitive character construct than junior high and elementary school students did. Students from eastern regions, which have a more highly developed economy, gave the highest scores on cognitive and affective character constructs of scientists. Students from western regions, which have a less developed economy, had a relatively negative impression of scientists. Students’ images of scientists’ affective, lifestyle, and job characters were positively correlated with their interests in pursuing scientific careers. Future research to explore the relationships between students’ mental images of scientists’ characters and students’ motivation to pursue science-related careers or to engage in scientific practices are recommended.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2100879
PAR ID:
10638532
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
APSE
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Asia-Pacific Science Education
Volume:
9
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2364-1177
Page Range / eLocation ID:
75 to 105
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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