Young people and science Attitudes, values and priorities Evidence from the ROSE project

Transcription

1 Young people and science Attitudes, values and priorities Evidence from the ROSE project Keynote presentation at EU s Science and Society Forum 2005 Brussels 8-11 March 2005 Session 4: Fostering diversity, inclusiveness and equality in science Svein Sjøberg, <svein.sjoberg@ils.uio.no> and Camilla Schreiner, University of Oslo, ROSE: The values and dangers of comparative studies Studies like TIMSS and PISA are important, but Focus is on league-tables on achievement against common standards Implies a pressure towards uniformity and decontextualized, universal science curricula also for primary and lower secondary schools TIMSS and PISA: no local adaptation, little on STS, little on attitudes, ethics etc. Observation from many countries: Educational policies will be PISA- and TIMSS-driven Hence: the need for other studies, to add important dimensions to the debate over S&T education The ROSE study tries to fill this gap. 2

2 A cross-cultural comparative project on young peoples views and perceptions, attitudes, values, interests, plans, priorities Related to science and technology ROSE details at 3 ROSE- Basic assumptions S&T curricula and teaching are not given, but are made to meet particular aims S&T should empower the learner as citizens and stimulate fascination and interest S&T education should also Promote gender equity and cultural diversity Take into account the views and values of the learners Key words: Motivation, meaning, interest, values, relevance 4

3 ROSE countries March 2005 Europe separate map Collected data Not finished (or uncertain) 5 ROSE Europe March 2005 Austria Czech Republic Germany Israel Northern Russia (Karelia) Slovakia Spain (Baleares) Collected data Not finished 6

4 Method and logistics Standard survey methods Target population 15 year-old, whole cohort, or defined sub-population Representative sample (one class per school, at least 25 schools, more if strata or groups are to be contrasted) N>650 'Original' questionnaire in English translations to different language 7 Method and logistics (cont'd) Data collection and data entry by national researcher in provided empty SPSS or Excel file Return to project organizers Data cleaning, quality check, merging of files by organizers Only data that meets certain standards is merged in joint file Some 10 PhD students base their thesis on ROSE data 8

5 ROSE Funding Developed countries cover their own expenses Developing countries and countries with weak economies: External funding for data collection Support from The Research Council of The Ministry of Education in The University of Oslo and Bergen 9 ROSE Instrument Developed over 1 ½ years by a team from all continents In total 250 items under 7 headings, all on a 4-point Likert scale: Disagree Agree Never - Often My out-of-school experiences What I want to learn about My future job Me and the environment My science classes My opinions about science and technology Myself as a scientist (Open written response) 10

6 All ROSE Items have this format ROSE: Some simple results Data collection ongoing, only preliminary results No theory. Only to trigger reflection (and some concern?) Univariates only (10 of 250 items) Means for girls and boys for different countries 12

7 Science, Technology and Society 13 Science and technology are important for society N. Children in all countries agree strongly that Science and technology are important for society Neutral response on scale 1-4 Girls Boys Mean G01. Science and technology are important for society 14

8 A country needs science and technology to become developed N. Children in all countries agree that S&T is needed for development. Boys tend to agree a little more than girls do Mean G11. A country needs science and technology to become developed 15 Science and technology can find cures to diseases like HIV/AIDS, cancer etc. N. Children in all countries have a strong belief that S&T will find cures to current medical challenges Mean G02. Science and technology will find cures to diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, etc. 16

9 Thanks to science and technology, there will be greater opportunities for future generations India India M Trinid ad ad & & T T N. Children in in all all countries think that that S&T will will give give better opportunities for for future generations In some countries (Nordic and ), the belief is not so strong as in others 1,0 1,0 1,5 1,5 2,0 2,0 2,5 2,5 3,0 3,0 3,5 3,5 4,0 4,0 Mean G03. G03. Thanks to to science and and technology, there will will be be greater opportunities for for future generations 17 New technologies will make work more interesting N. Children in most countries think that new technologies will make life more interesting In some countries (Nordic and ), children, in particular girls, are more sceptical 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 3,5 Mean G05. New technologies will make work more interesting 18

10 The benefits of science are greater than the harmful effects that it could have In, the scepticism towards science is considerable N. Children in most countries see more benefits than harmful effects in science, but. In many indutrialized countries, the feeling are more ambivalent, in particular among girls. Mean G06. The benefits of science are greater than the harmful effects it could have 19 Trust in science? 20

11 We must always trust what scientists have to say N. Children in most countries indicate (sound) scepticism to what scientists have to say and girls have less trust than boys Mean G14. We should always trust what scientists have to say 21 Scientists are neutral and objective Malaysia N. Children in most countries doubt that scientists are neutral and objective and girls have more doubt than boys Mean G15. Scientists are neutral and objective 22

12 The future and the environment 23 People should care more about protection of the environment N. Children in all countries strongly agree that we should care more about the protection of the environment, but..boys are less concerned about the environment than girls -- in all countries Mean D10. People should care more about protection of the environment 24

13 Environmental problems should be left to the experts ese children are the most sceptical to experts N. Most children do not think that environmental problems should be left to the experts, but. more boys than girls think the experts should solve the problems Mean D13. Environmental problems should be left to the experts 25 Science and technology can solve all environmental problems ese girls and boys are the most sceptical to S&T N. girls are much more sceptical than boys Children differ in their views about S&T as problem solvers for the environment, and girls are much more sceptical than boys 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 3,5 4 Mean D04. Science and technology can solve all environmental problems 26

14 Experience with school science 27 I like school science better than most other school subjects N. In many countries, girls seem to dislike school science In many industrialized countries, science is less popular than other subjects Mean F05. I like school science better than most other subjects 28

15 School science has opened my eyes to new and exciting jobs Malaysia N. In developing countries, children think that science has opened their eyes to exciting jobs In many industrialized countries, children do not think that science has opened their eyes to exciting jobs Mean F04. School science has opened my eyes to new and exciting jobs 29 Future work, plans and priorities 30

16 Working with something I find important and meaningful N. Children in all countries want to work with something they find important and meaningful, but in all countries, this matters less for boys than for girls Mean B15. Working with something I find important and meaningful 31 Working with something that fits my attitudes and values N. Children in all countries want to work with something that fits their attitudes and values, but in all countries, this matters much less for boys than for girls Mean B16. Working with something that fits my attitudes and values 32

17 Helping other people N. Girls in all countries want to help other people, while. boys in some countries do not find this important Mean B02. Helping other people 33 Working with machines or tools N. Girls are negative to working with machines and tools Boys in all countries like workning machines much more than girls do Mean B07. Working with machines or tools 34

18 Working with science or technology? 35 I would like to become a scientist N. In industrialized countries, few children dream about becoming scientists. In particular girls Mean F14. I would like to become a scientist 36

19 I would like to get a job in technology may have a problem N. Girls in some countries are negative to get a job in technology, and.. alsoboys are ambivalent Mean F16. I would like to get a job in technology 37 The ROSE project has received attention, also in (Press coverage from AsashiShinbun December 11, 2004 ) 38

20 Rose in 39