The Level of Biology Teachers’ Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution and its Relationship to their Understanding Level of Nature of Science
Keywords:
biology teacher, Evolution, Evolution theory Acceptance, Nature of science
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the level of biology teachers’ acceptance of the theory of evolution, their level of understanding of nature of science, and the nature of the relationship between them. The sample of the study consisted (61) teachers of biology from the Jaresh Directorate of education schools in the academic year 2021-2022. Two instruments were developed and verified its validity and reliability, once to mesure the acceptence of the theory of evolution, the ather to mesure an understanding of nature of science. The results revealed that the acceptance level of the theory of evolution among the biology teachers is weak, and thier understanding level of nature of science is moderate. Also, it revealed that there is a strong and statistically significant correlation between the level of biology teachers' acceptance of the theory of evolution and the level of thier understanding of nature of science. Teachers' understanding of nature of science is a strong predictor of their acceptance of evolution.
References
1. التميمي، رنا ورواقة، غازي. (2017). طبيعة العلم لدى معلمي علوم المرحلة الأساسية العليا وعلاقته بمستوى الفهم العلمي للقضايا الجدلية. دراسات: العلوم التربوية، (4)44، 333-319.
2. جودة، محفوظ (2008). التحليل الإحصائي الأساسي باستخدام SPSS. عمان: دار وائل للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع.
3. الحجري، حسن بن محمد. (2006). مستوى فهم معلمي العلوم لطبيعة العلم وعلاقته بممارستهم الصفية. رسالة ماجستير غير منشورة، جامعة السلطان قابوس، مسقط، سلطنة عمان.
4. الربابعة، فاطمة. (2019). مستوى فهم طبيعة العلم في ضوء المشروع (2061) لدى معلمي العلوم في الأردن وعلاقته ببعض المتغيرات الديموغرافية. مجلة جامعة النجاح للأبحاث (العلوم التربوية)، (4)44، 566-255
5. الزعبي، طلال. (2009). العلاقة بين مستوى فهم معلمي العلوم الحياتية في المرحلة الثانوية لطبيعة العلم ومستوى فهمهم للقضايا العلمية الجدلية واتجاهاتهم العلمية. دراسات، العلوم التربوية، (2(36،235-221
6. زيتون، عايش. (2013). مستوى فهم طبيعة المسعى العلمي في ضوء المشروع (2061) لدى معلمي العلوم في الأردن وعلاقته ببعض المتغيرات الديمغرافية. المجلة الأردنية للعلوم التر
7. بوية، 2(9)،139-119.
8. زيتون، عايش (2010). الاتجاهات العالمية المعاصرة في مناهج العلوم وتدريسها. عمان: دار الشروق للنشر والتوزيع.
9. القضاة، محمد (2019). مستوى فهم طبيعة العلم وفق معايير (NSTA) لدى معلمي العلوم في الأردن. مجلة بحوث، 30، 66-51
10. Aguillard, D. (1999). Evolution education in Louisiana public schools: a decade following Edwards v. Aguillard. American Biology Teacher, 61(3), 182-188.
11. Akyol, G., Tekkaya, C., Sungur, S., & Traynor, A. (2012). Modeling the Interrelationships Among Pre-service Science Teachers’ Understanding and Acceptance of Evolution, Their Views on Nature of Science and Self-Efficacy Beliefs Regarding Teaching Evolution. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 23, 937–957.
12. American Association for the Advancement of Science. (2006). AAAS Annual Report 2006. from https://www.aaas.org/page/aaas-annual-report-2006
13. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2013). www.Project2061.org.
14. Annac, A. & Bahcekapili, H. (2012). Understanding and Acceptance level of evolutionary theory among Turkish Univercity Students. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi, 13 (1), 1-11.
15. Brown, J., College, P., & Scott, J. (2016). Measuring the acceptance of evolutionary theory in Texas 2-year. Research in Higher Education Journal, 31, 30-41.
16. Carter, B. (2013). Nature of Science Conceptions, Attitudes towards Evolution and Global Climate Change, and Course Achievement in an Introductory Biology Course. Master Thesis. Syracuse University, New York State, US. Retrieved January 18, 2023 from http://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=thesis
17. Chen, L. (2015). Taiwan High School Biology Teachers' Acceptance and Understanding of Evolution and the Nature of Science. ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, University of South Dakota.
18. Coleman, J., Stears, M., & Dempster, E. (2015). Student teachers’ understanding and acceptance of evolution and the nature of science. South African Journal of Education, 35(2), 1-9.
19. Cofre, H., Nunez P., Santibanez D., Pavez J. M., Valencia M., & Vergara C. (2019). A Critical Review of Students’ and Teachers’ Understandings of Nature of Science. Science and Education, 28(3–5), 205–248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-019-00051-3.
20. Cofre, H. Cuevas, E., & Becerra, B. (2017). The relationship between biology teachers’ understanding of the nature of science and the understanding and acceptance of the theory of evolution. International Journal of Science Education, 39(16), 2243-2260.
21. Heaton, L. B. (2019). Exploring Freshmen Undergraduates' Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution and Views of Nature of Science. ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Oklahoma State University.
22. Donnelly, L., Kazempour, M., & Amirshokoohi, A. (2009). High School Students’ Perceptions of Evolution Instruction: Acceptance and Evolution Learning Experiences. Research in Science Education, 39(5), 643–660.
23. Ilkorucu, S. (2018). What Pre-service Science Teachers Say but What They Really Mean Regarding the Theory of Biological Evolution. Anthropologist, 31(1-3), 86-93.
24. Irez, S. & Bakanay, O. (2011). An assessment into pre-service biology teachers’ approaches to the theory of evolution and nature of science. Ted Ed Egitim Ve Bilim, 36(162), 39-55.
25. Gefaell, J., Prieto, T., Abdelaziz, M., lvarez, I., Anton, J., Arroyo, J., et al. (2020) Acceptance and knowledge of evolutionary theory among third-year university students in Spain. PLoS ONE 15(9): e0238345. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238345
26. Glaze, A., Goldston, M., & Dantzler, J. (2015). Evolution in the Southeastern USA: Factors influencing acceptance and rejection in pre-service science teachers. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 13, 1189–1209.
27. Kahyaoglu, M. (2013). The Teacher Candidates’ Attitudes towards Teaching of Evolution Theory. Electronic Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, (7)1, 83-96.
28. Martin, M. L. (2011). Understanding Educational Statistics Using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. JohnWiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, Published simultaneously in Canada.
29. Miller, J., Scott, E., & Okamoto, S. (2006). Public acceptance of evolution. Science. 313(5788), 765-766.
30. McComas, W. (2017). Understanding how science works: The nature of science as the foundation for science teaching and learning. The School Science Review 98(365), 71-76.
31. McComas, W. (2014). Nature of Science. The Language of Science Education, SensePublisher Rottedam.
32. Nehm, R. & Schonfeld, I. (2007). Does increasing biology teacher knowledge of evolution and the nature of science lead to greater preference for the teaching of evolution in schools? Journal of Science Teacher Education, 18, 699-723.
33. Petto, A. (2005). Why Teach Evolution? National Center for Science Education, Inc., Retrieved janyoary 21, 2016 from https://ncse.com/library-resource/why-teach-evolution
34. Rice, J. W. (2012). Understanding and acceptance of biological evolution and the nature of science: Studies on university faculty. Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Paper 12705, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
35. Rutledge, M. & Warden, M. (2000). Evolutionary Theory, the Nature of Science & High School Biology Teachers: Critical Relationships. The American Biology Teacher, 62(1), 23-31.
36. Rutledge, M. & Sadler, C. (2011). University Students’ Acceptance of Biological Theories—Is Evolution Really Different? Journal of College Science Teaching, 41(2), 38-43.
37. Rutledge. L. R. & Sadler, K. C. (2007). Reliability of the Measure of Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution (MATE) Instrument with University Students.The American Biology Teacher, 69(6), 332-335.
38. Scott, E. C. (2007). What’s wrong with the “Teach the Controversy” slogan? McGill Journal of Education, 42(2), 307-315.
39. Sloane, J. D., Wheeler, L. B., & Manson, J. S. (2023). Teaching nature of science in introductory biology: Impacts on students’ acceptance of biological evolution. PLoS ONE 18(8). Retrieved December 21, 2023 From https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289680.
40. Sumranwanich, W. & Yuenyong, C. (2014). Graduate students’ concepts of nature of science (NOS) and attitudes toward teaching NOS. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 116, 2443–2452.
2. جودة، محفوظ (2008). التحليل الإحصائي الأساسي باستخدام SPSS. عمان: دار وائل للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع.
3. الحجري، حسن بن محمد. (2006). مستوى فهم معلمي العلوم لطبيعة العلم وعلاقته بممارستهم الصفية. رسالة ماجستير غير منشورة، جامعة السلطان قابوس، مسقط، سلطنة عمان.
4. الربابعة، فاطمة. (2019). مستوى فهم طبيعة العلم في ضوء المشروع (2061) لدى معلمي العلوم في الأردن وعلاقته ببعض المتغيرات الديموغرافية. مجلة جامعة النجاح للأبحاث (العلوم التربوية)، (4)44، 566-255
5. الزعبي، طلال. (2009). العلاقة بين مستوى فهم معلمي العلوم الحياتية في المرحلة الثانوية لطبيعة العلم ومستوى فهمهم للقضايا العلمية الجدلية واتجاهاتهم العلمية. دراسات، العلوم التربوية، (2(36،235-221
6. زيتون، عايش. (2013). مستوى فهم طبيعة المسعى العلمي في ضوء المشروع (2061) لدى معلمي العلوم في الأردن وعلاقته ببعض المتغيرات الديمغرافية. المجلة الأردنية للعلوم التر
7. بوية، 2(9)،139-119.
8. زيتون، عايش (2010). الاتجاهات العالمية المعاصرة في مناهج العلوم وتدريسها. عمان: دار الشروق للنشر والتوزيع.
9. القضاة، محمد (2019). مستوى فهم طبيعة العلم وفق معايير (NSTA) لدى معلمي العلوم في الأردن. مجلة بحوث، 30، 66-51
10. Aguillard, D. (1999). Evolution education in Louisiana public schools: a decade following Edwards v. Aguillard. American Biology Teacher, 61(3), 182-188.
11. Akyol, G., Tekkaya, C., Sungur, S., & Traynor, A. (2012). Modeling the Interrelationships Among Pre-service Science Teachers’ Understanding and Acceptance of Evolution, Their Views on Nature of Science and Self-Efficacy Beliefs Regarding Teaching Evolution. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 23, 937–957.
12. American Association for the Advancement of Science. (2006). AAAS Annual Report 2006. from https://www.aaas.org/page/aaas-annual-report-2006
13. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2013). www.Project2061.org.
14. Annac, A. & Bahcekapili, H. (2012). Understanding and Acceptance level of evolutionary theory among Turkish Univercity Students. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi, 13 (1), 1-11.
15. Brown, J., College, P., & Scott, J. (2016). Measuring the acceptance of evolutionary theory in Texas 2-year. Research in Higher Education Journal, 31, 30-41.
16. Carter, B. (2013). Nature of Science Conceptions, Attitudes towards Evolution and Global Climate Change, and Course Achievement in an Introductory Biology Course. Master Thesis. Syracuse University, New York State, US. Retrieved January 18, 2023 from http://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=thesis
17. Chen, L. (2015). Taiwan High School Biology Teachers' Acceptance and Understanding of Evolution and the Nature of Science. ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, University of South Dakota.
18. Coleman, J., Stears, M., & Dempster, E. (2015). Student teachers’ understanding and acceptance of evolution and the nature of science. South African Journal of Education, 35(2), 1-9.
19. Cofre, H., Nunez P., Santibanez D., Pavez J. M., Valencia M., & Vergara C. (2019). A Critical Review of Students’ and Teachers’ Understandings of Nature of Science. Science and Education, 28(3–5), 205–248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-019-00051-3.
20. Cofre, H. Cuevas, E., & Becerra, B. (2017). The relationship between biology teachers’ understanding of the nature of science and the understanding and acceptance of the theory of evolution. International Journal of Science Education, 39(16), 2243-2260.
21. Heaton, L. B. (2019). Exploring Freshmen Undergraduates' Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution and Views of Nature of Science. ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Oklahoma State University.
22. Donnelly, L., Kazempour, M., & Amirshokoohi, A. (2009). High School Students’ Perceptions of Evolution Instruction: Acceptance and Evolution Learning Experiences. Research in Science Education, 39(5), 643–660.
23. Ilkorucu, S. (2018). What Pre-service Science Teachers Say but What They Really Mean Regarding the Theory of Biological Evolution. Anthropologist, 31(1-3), 86-93.
24. Irez, S. & Bakanay, O. (2011). An assessment into pre-service biology teachers’ approaches to the theory of evolution and nature of science. Ted Ed Egitim Ve Bilim, 36(162), 39-55.
25. Gefaell, J., Prieto, T., Abdelaziz, M., lvarez, I., Anton, J., Arroyo, J., et al. (2020) Acceptance and knowledge of evolutionary theory among third-year university students in Spain. PLoS ONE 15(9): e0238345. Retrieved December 12, 2023 from https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238345
26. Glaze, A., Goldston, M., & Dantzler, J. (2015). Evolution in the Southeastern USA: Factors influencing acceptance and rejection in pre-service science teachers. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 13, 1189–1209.
27. Kahyaoglu, M. (2013). The Teacher Candidates’ Attitudes towards Teaching of Evolution Theory. Electronic Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, (7)1, 83-96.
28. Martin, M. L. (2011). Understanding Educational Statistics Using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. JohnWiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, Published simultaneously in Canada.
29. Miller, J., Scott, E., & Okamoto, S. (2006). Public acceptance of evolution. Science. 313(5788), 765-766.
30. McComas, W. (2017). Understanding how science works: The nature of science as the foundation for science teaching and learning. The School Science Review 98(365), 71-76.
31. McComas, W. (2014). Nature of Science. The Language of Science Education, SensePublisher Rottedam.
32. Nehm, R. & Schonfeld, I. (2007). Does increasing biology teacher knowledge of evolution and the nature of science lead to greater preference for the teaching of evolution in schools? Journal of Science Teacher Education, 18, 699-723.
33. Petto, A. (2005). Why Teach Evolution? National Center for Science Education, Inc., Retrieved janyoary 21, 2016 from https://ncse.com/library-resource/why-teach-evolution
34. Rice, J. W. (2012). Understanding and acceptance of biological evolution and the nature of science: Studies on university faculty. Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Paper 12705, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
35. Rutledge, M. & Warden, M. (2000). Evolutionary Theory, the Nature of Science & High School Biology Teachers: Critical Relationships. The American Biology Teacher, 62(1), 23-31.
36. Rutledge, M. & Sadler, C. (2011). University Students’ Acceptance of Biological Theories—Is Evolution Really Different? Journal of College Science Teaching, 41(2), 38-43.
37. Rutledge. L. R. & Sadler, K. C. (2007). Reliability of the Measure of Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution (MATE) Instrument with University Students.The American Biology Teacher, 69(6), 332-335.
38. Scott, E. C. (2007). What’s wrong with the “Teach the Controversy” slogan? McGill Journal of Education, 42(2), 307-315.
39. Sloane, J. D., Wheeler, L. B., & Manson, J. S. (2023). Teaching nature of science in introductory biology: Impacts on students’ acceptance of biological evolution. PLoS ONE 18(8). Retrieved December 21, 2023 From https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289680.
40. Sumranwanich, W. & Yuenyong, C. (2014). Graduate students’ concepts of nature of science (NOS) and attitudes toward teaching NOS. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 116, 2443–2452.
Published
2024-03-10
How to Cite
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Hasan Ali Al-Ayasrah. (2024). The Level of Biology Teachers’ Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution and its Relationship to their Understanding Level of Nature of Science. Journal of Arts, Literature, Humanities and Social Sciences, (101), 81-94. https://doi.org/10.33193/JALHSS.101.2024.1029
Issue
Section
المقالات
