This article describes the effects of a student-teacher-scientist partnership program on high school students' science outcomes. The design was a cluster-randomized trial with an analytic sample of 36 teachers randomly assigned to teach a photosynthesis- and respiration-focused module including student-designed investigations supported by online…

Our short-term longitudinal study explored undergraduate students' experiences with performing authentic science practices in the classroom in relation to their science achievement and course grades. In addition, classroom experiences (felt recognition as a scientist and perceived classroom climate) and changes over a 10-week academic term in STEM…

We conducted a mixed-methods study of matriculation issues for African-Americans in the STEM pipeline. The project compares the experiences of students currently majoring in science (N?=?304) with the experiences of those who have succeeded in earning science degrees (N?=?307). Participants were surveyed about their pipeline experiences based on…

Prior research shows that undergraduates tend to identify more strongly with the field of science after participating in scientific research. However, mediators that might account for this association are not well understood. In the current study, we propose that science self-efficacy may serve this mediational function. Specifically, data from a…

The importance of science to the economy and for the progression of society is widely acknowledged. Yet, there are concerns that minority ethnic students in the UK are underrepresented, and even excluded, from post-compulsory science education and careers "in" science. Drawing on an exploratory study of 46 semi-structured interviews with…

This study examined the nature of science (NOS) views of lower elementary grade level students, including their views of scientists. Participants were 23 third-grade African American students from two Midwest urban settings. A multiple instrument approach using an open-ended questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, a modified version of the…

This study explores how students' physics identities are shaped by their experiences in high school physics classes and by their career outcome expectations. The theoretical framework focuses on physics identity and includes the dimensions of student performance, competence, recognition by others, and interest. Drawing data from the Persistence…

This study investigated the representations of a select group of scientists (n = 10) in a sample of Canadian high school and college textbooks. Drawing on semiotic and cultural-historical activity theoretical frameworks, we conducted two analyses. A coarse-grained, quantitative analysis of the prevalence and structure of these representations…

Describes the development of a revised Scientific Attitude Inventory (SAI II). Reports on a field test of the revised instrument. Concludes that the revised instrument is a significant improvement over the original. Appendix includes position statements and corresponding attitude statements. Contains 21 references. (Author/JRH)

Investigates cumulative effects of SCIS in terms of students' attitudes. Hypothesized and supported is that students exposed to the complete SCIS program would show a greater degree of positive attitude toward science, experimenting, and the scientist than would those not exposed to SCIS. Results indicating sex differences in attitudes are…

Examines three issues: the negative nature of today's stereotype of a scientist; the relationship of present stereotypes to course enrollment; and the relationship of the closeness of self-image and stereotype to course enrollment in science. Analysis of semantic differential items reveal differences among science and nonscience college majors.…

Describes a study that investigated the role of a design context for developing children's understanding of science as the construction and revision of models. Results indicate that as early as the first grade, children's model-evaluation skills may be quite amenable to development. (DDR)

Explores how the school classroom context influenced the expression of one prospective science teachers' beliefs about science and science teaching. Using the comparative method of data analysis, four interrelated categories of a student teacher's experience were generated: (1) beliefs about teaching science; (2) constrained teaching and…

Investigates black high school females' images of scientists. Descriptions of the scientist differed with the ethnicity ascribed to him or her, and these differences corresponded to the cultural orientation---the dominant culture or the African-American culture in the United States. Contains sample interview guide and descriptive labels of the…

Students' views of science as static, mixed, and dynamic are characterized. The relationship between views of science and acquisition of integrated understanding of thermodynamics is examined. Students with dynamic views acquired more integrated understanding than those with static views. Data were collected from 153 middle school students who…