HOW "SCIENTIFIC METHOD" IS REGARDED IN JAPANESE SCIENCE EDUCATION

Abstract

In Rika-kyoiku, science education in Japan, at lower secondary schools, it is essential to have students discover a law based on the data obtained by themselves; it is believed that the process is effective for the students to acquire so-called scientific methods. When their teacher leads them to assume a simple mathematical relationship on their data, e.g. a linear one, he has to explain the philosophy which justifies the procedure. Rika-kyoiku, however, has not given an explanation for justifying them. The present report intends to give the explanation satisfying students at lower secondary schools in Japan. In the overall objectives of science at lower secondary schools given in the Course of Study, the following phrase is employed: "to develop students' ability in and positive attitude towards making inquiries about nature." This phrase can be interpreted that the students should acquire the scientific methods: the way of discovering a law which natural science has given its concepts. The students' attitude to Rika, science, primarily depends on the degree of understanding how the law plays its own roles in natural science. Without considering how the law works, an essential discussion cannot be started in Rika-kyoiku. In order to have the students learn the scientific methods, the teachers have to recognize them by themselves; consequently, they also have to understand the ideas according to which the Western people have developed natural science. The required attitude to science surely differs from that of scientists; in fact, they need not necessarily pay attention to those ideas. For the purpose of having the teachers understand those ideas, it is essential for the Course of Study to explain them.