This study used structural topic models (STMs) to analyze physics pre-service teachers' conceptual understanding of scientific literacy. Participants included 126 physics pre-service teachers studying at Shandong Normal University in China. First, we used an open-ended questionnaire to collect the data. Second, STM was used to classify the data,…

In an era marked by widespread access to information and debates over truth, the need for scientific and agricultural knowledge has become increasingly crucial. This study examined the demographic characteristics and baseline science and agricultural knowledge scores of respondents in Georgia using a non-probability, purposive sampling approach…

Background: The microbiology should be a part of curricula; especially after epidemic COVID-19. Purpose: The study reports the level of knowledge and opinions of Slovenian citizens about microorganisms. Sample: The target population of the online survey was Slovenian citizens older than 14 years. Design and methods: We collected 405 complete…

In a modern yet demanding society, scientific literacy (SL) is an essential skill that enables the individual to explain, understand and discuss issues related to science, health, and the environment. The purpose of this research study is to validate the Scientific Literacy Assessment (SLA) tool in the Greek language and investigate the level of…

The scientist-practitioner gap refers to the phenomenon of individuals with a scientific background exhibiting non-scientific beliefs. Informed by the social-cognitive process model, this study aimed to develop a more coherent understanding of how such non-scientific beliefs can be predicted by individuals' cognitive flexibility mediated by their…

Students' individual characteristics influence the effectiveness of instruction and learning and, therefore, the depth of learning. This study brings forth the voices of middle school students regarding their science learning preferences through four modalities: visual, auditory, sensorimotor, and agency support. We examined the relationship…

As the impacts of water quality on human health become better understood, universities have an opportunity to equip students to become more informed and responsible citizens. We define "water literacy" as possessing the scientific knowledge to understand the links between water availability and usage, and being equipped to constructively…

The purpose of this study is to assess climate change knowledge among high school students and their beliefs and perceptions about the climate crisis. A questionnaire composed of 43 closed-ended questions was applied to 219 students aged 15-18 in three schools located in the north of Portugal. The results show that participants declared having…

Background: Understanding students' views of the nature of science (NOS) has become one of the most discussed topics of science education in Saudi Arabia. Insights therein could inform curricular inform, preservice, and inservice teacher education and the national discourse around science in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Purpose: This study…

Experience and intuition may help explain everyday phenomena. However, physics concepts cannot be induced directly from them. Learning physics requires an examination of the ideas of scientifically constructed theoretical frameworks, explaining coherently organized physics concepts. This research examined student teachers' physics knowledge in…

Like all SSI, the COVID-19 pandemic requires decisions that are contentious, involve scientific thinking, and vary across social groups. This investigation determined how perceptions about COVID-19 science and sociocultural membership associate with 557 university biology students': (1) COVID-19 behaviors after stay-at-home orders and (2) support…

The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of US schools associated with two measures of scientific literacy (content knowledge and "procedural and epistemic" knowledge) using the 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) data. Because outcomes are nested within students, and students within schools, a…

Background: In Slovakia, no relevant information is available about the scientific literacy levels achieved by secondary school students. Purpose: The objective of the research was to identify the levels of scientific literacy among students in the last year of grammar school and examine to what extent this determined the subject chosen for a…

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a study of 15-year-old students' performance in reading, mathematics, and science literacy conducted every 3 years. The PISA 2018 results provide a global view of U.S. students' performance compared to their peers in nearly 80 countries and education systems. By design, PISA aims to…

The past generation has seen major advances in science and technology, and in the preparation of high school students for college. This study investigates changes in the science knowledge of college students, and in their attitudes and belief systems regarding science and technology. Over 12,600 non-science majors at the University of Arizona were…