Assessing the Scientific Literacy of Younger Students: Moving on from the Stereotypes of the Draw-a-Scientist-Test (original) (raw)

Middle School Student's Perceptions of Scientists and Views About to Become a Scientist

It is important to explore children‟s perceptions related to scientists for preventing their lack of interest in science and avoidance of science careers. This study aims to reveal middle school students' images of scientists, with an analysis of how those images may be influenced by middle school science textbooks currently use in Turkey. It was also examined students‟ opinions related to becoming a scientist. The study is based on a qualitative research methodology. The sample consists of 98 students from a middle school (5th, 6th,7th, and 8th grade). The data was gathered by four science textbooks, the Draw a Scientist Test (DAST) and an open-ended questionnaire. The findings showed that most of the middle school students think that scientists as men, happy, Middle school student wearing lab coats and glasses, working individually in indoor places. Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were drawn as the most famous scientists. The images of scientists in the science textbooks were mostly men. On the other side, more than half of the students were not sure or not eager to be scientists for their future careers because of negative thoughts on scientific studies and not matching their own characters and the characters that scientists should have.

Children’s Images of Scientists: Does Grade Level Make a Difference?*

The purpose of this study was to assess children’s images of scientists by using the Draw-A-Scientist Test and to determine if differences in these images exist between grade levels. The DAST was administered to 243 children who were enrolled in kindergarten (aged 6) and grade 3 and 5 (aged 9 and 11). Findings obtained from the study revealed that, in general, children possess stereotypical views of scientists using the DAST with their drawings displaying fewer indicators of the stereotypic model on average. Results indicated that there are significant differences in students’ stereotypical images of scientists depending on grade level. The results also showed that fifth grade students created images of scientists with more stereotypical elements compared to drawings created by students in kindergarten and grade 3.

Secondary school students’ perceptions and attitudes about scientists

European Journal of Education Studies, 2018

This research was carried out to determine secondary school students' perceptions and attitudes towards scientists. The study group consists of 53 fifth and sixth grade students receiving education in a state secondary school in Turkey. Convergent parallel design among mixed research methods was used during the research. Research data were collected using " Questionnaire on attitudes towards scientists " and " Draw A Scientist (DAS) " forms. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods and content analysis were used for analysis of the obtained data. Research findings indicate that, female students and sixth grade students exhibited higher attitude levels towards scientists as compared to male and fifth grade students, respectively. This difference between the attitude levels, however, was not found to be significant. Although female students drew male figures to depict scientists, they were more eager to become scientists as compared to male students. The results obtained from the drawings indicated that students generally perceive scientists as hardworking and smart male individuals wearing gown, glasses or protective glasses, tie or bowtie, mustache with a peculiar hairstyle or with no hair. Majority of students defined the activities of scientists as inventing, discovering, making space research or scientific projects. The results obtained from the inventory showed that, the majority of students depicted scientists as creative, problem-solving individuals that discover new information and design new stuff. Research results also showed that students have stereotyped opinions about scientists and they generally confuse the working fields of scientists with those of engineers.

Science Teachers’ and Their Students’ Perceptions of Science and Scientists

International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, 2020

The purpose of this study was to explore school science teachers’ and their students’ perceptions of science and scientists. The participants included 116 in-service middle school chemistry teachers who attended a training program at the Faculty of Education, Lebanese University, and 250 of their students, randomly selected from a larger sample of 2345, enrolled in Grades 7-9 at Lebanese public schools all over Lebanon. Using the Draw-a-scientist-test (DAST), qualitative and quantitative data was collected from the participating teachers and their students. The teachers themselves administered the test to their students. Results showed that the stereotypical image of a scientist being a Caucasian, male, working in a lab, and conducting experiments mainly in chemistry were prevalent. There was absence of contemporary scientists and female scientists among the preferred names of scientists delivered by the students. The participants held positive attitudes towards scientists and many ...