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Journal of Research in Science Teaching
written by Dana L. Zeidler, Benjamin C. Herman, Mitch Ruzek, Anne Linder, and Shu-Sheng Lin
The purpose of this investigation was to examine, from a cross-cultural perspective, students' epistemological patterns of reasoning about socioscientific issues (SSI), and to identify potential interactions of cultural and scientific identity. Mediating factors associated with students' argumentation and discourse about SSI, as well as the public's understanding of science, has been identified as an important area of investigation in the field of science education. This mixed-methods design included over 300 students from Jamaica, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United States. Students responded to instruments designed to assess their epistemological conceptualizations and justifications related to distributive justice, allocation of scarce medical resources, and epistemological beliefs over five dimensions related to scientific knowledge. Four iterations of a coding scheme produced over 97% inter-rater agreement for four independent coders. Results indicate there is a consistent trend toward epistemological congruity across cultures within inductively derived themes of: (1) Fairness; (2) Pragmatism; (3) Emotive Reasoning; (4) Utility; and (5) Theological Issues. Moreover, there were no discernable differences in terms of how students from these countries presented their beliefs on the sub-categories of each of the five major categories. It appears that students displayed a high degree of congruence with respect to how they frame their reasoning on this SSI as well as their justifications for their epistemological beliefs. There were statistically significant differences regarding the ability to raise scientifically relevant questions among countries. Commonalities as well as distinguishing characteristics in epistemological orientations are compared and contrasted and connections to a model of socioscientific reasoning with implications for research and pedagogy are discussed.
Journal of Research in Science Teaching: Volume 50, Issue 3, Pages 251-283
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Learning Theory
- Societal Issues
= Cultural Issues
= International Issues
- Student Characteristics
= Affect
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
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© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
DOI:
10.1002/tea.21077
Keywords:
cross-cultural research, epistemology, ethics, scientific literacy, sociocultural, socioscientific issues, socioscientific reasoning
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created May 6, 2016 by Madeleine Wolff
Record Updated:
May 30, 2016 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
March 1, 2013
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AIP Format
D. Zeidler, B. Herman, M. Ruzek, A. Linder, and S. Lin, , J. Res. Sci. Teaching 50 (3), 251 (2013), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21077).
AJP/PRST-PER
D. Zeidler, B. Herman, M. Ruzek, A. Linder, and S. Lin, Cross-cultural epistemological orientations to socioscientific issues, J. Res. Sci. Teaching 50 (3), 251 (2013), <https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21077>.
APA Format
Zeidler, D., Herman, B., Ruzek, M., Linder, A., & Lin, S. (2013, March 1). Cross-cultural epistemological orientations to socioscientific issues. J. Res. Sci. Teaching, 50(3), 251-283. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21077
Chicago Format
Zeidler, D, B. Herman, M. Ruzek, A. Linder, and S. Lin. "Cross-cultural epistemological orientations to socioscientific issues." J. Res. Sci. Teaching. 50, no. 3, (March 1, 2013): 251-283, https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21077 (accessed 28 March 2024).
MLA Format
Zeidler, Dana L., Benjamin C. Herman, Mitch Ruzek, Anne Linder, and Shu-Sheng Lin. "Cross-cultural epistemological orientations to socioscientific issues." J. Res. Sci. Teaching 50.3 (2013): 251-283. 28 Mar. 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21077>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "Dana L. Zeidler and Benjamin C. Herman and Mitch Ruzek and Anne Linder and Shu-Sheng Lin", Title = {Cross-cultural epistemological orientations to socioscientific issues}, Journal = {J. Res. Sci. Teaching}, Volume = {50}, Number = {3}, Pages = {251-283}, Month = {March}, Year = {2013} }
Refer Export Format

%A Dana L. Zeidler %A Benjamin C. Herman %A Mitch Ruzek %A Anne Linder %A Shu-Sheng Lin %T Cross-cultural epistemological orientations to socioscientific issues %J J. Res. Sci. Teaching %V 50 %N 3 %D March 1, 2013 %P 251-283 %U https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21077 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Zeidler, Dana L. %A Herman, Benjamin C. %A Ruzek, Mitch %A Linder, Anne %A Lin, Shu-Sheng %D March 1, 2013 %T Cross-cultural epistemological orientations to socioscientific issues %J J. Res. Sci. Teaching %V 50 %N 3 %P 251-283 %8 March 1, 2013 %U https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21077


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