Research Information System
The 15th Conference of the European Science Education Research Association (ESERA), Nevşehir, Turkey, 28 August - 01 September 2023, pp.301-302, (Summary Text)
The present study investigated how well Turkish middle school students’
issue familiarity predict their informal reasoning modes (in terms of the total
number of subject areas used) regarding three different SSI, namely, space
explorations (SPE), genetically modified organisms (GMO), and nuclear power
plants (NPP). Correlational research design was adopted, and a total of 465
students constituted the sample. Instrument of the study included Demographic
Information Form, SSI Survey asking students’ argument, accompanying reasons,
and counter-argument(s), and Issue Familiarity Form developed by the
researchers. Students’ written arguments were coded based on the SEE-SEP Model
including six subject areas (sociology/culture, environment, economy, science,
ethics/morality, policy). Descriptive analyses indicated that the middle school
students’ informal reasoning modes varied across different SSI. It was also
revealed that the students were able to consider multiple perspectives (i.e.
using more than one subject area regarding GMO and NPP, and more than two
subject areas regarding SPE) while negotiating SSI. Regression analyses showed
that students’ issue familiarity significantly predicted their informal
reasoning modes (in terms of the total number of subject areas used) regarding
the SPE and NPP topics. However, the students’ issue familiarity was not a
predictor of their informal reasoning modes regarding the GMO topic.