Causal relationship models of various factors affecting the ability to extract variables from natural phenomena

Abstract

The present study was conducted on junior high school students to determine causal relationships between factors that may affect awareness to variables such as extraction of dependent and independent variables related to changes in natural phenomena. Pass analysis was performed with awareness to variables as a purpose variable, and "experience regarding surrounding nature," "favorable impression for mathematics," "confidence in natural science," "intellectual curiosity about nature/science and technology," "experience in scientific research," "favorable impression for natural science" and "experience in making things" as explanatory variables. The following causal relationships were demonstrated: (1) "Intellectual curiosity about nature/science and technology" co-varied with "favorable impression of natural science", being at the initial stage of a causal relationship that affects "awareness to variables." (2) "Experience in scientific research," "experience in making things" and "confidence in natural science" were affected by "intellectual curiosity about nature/science and technology" and "favorable impression of natural science," whereas "experience in making things" affected "experience in scientific research" and "confidence in natural science." On the other hand, "experience in scientific research" affected "confidence in natural science," while ultimately influencing "experience regarding surrounding nature" and "favorable impression of mathematics." (3) "Experience regarding surrounding nature" and "favorable impression of mathematics" directly affected "awareness to variables."