An Analysis on the structure of Factors Affecting Understanding of The Nature of Science

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the structure of factors that affect understanding of the nature of science in Korea and Japan. This study hypothesized that understanding of the nature of science is influenced by three factors: (1) interest in science; (2) scientific attitudes; and (3) extracurricular experience of science. Questionnaires measuring these three factors and the revised NSKS items were administered to 204 high school students in Korea and 117 in Japan. The results of this study indicated that: (1) scientific attitudes are the most influential factor in Korea and Japan; (2) students' interest in, and extracurricular experience of science are at the same level in Korea; (3) the fundamental structure of factors affecting understanding of the nature of science are the same in Korea and Japan.