Multidimensional analysis of high-school students' perceptions about biotechnology
Multidimensional analysis of high-school students' perceptions about biotechnology
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DOI：
10.1080/00219266.2011.634019
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发表时间：
2012-09-01
影响因子：
1.1
通讯作者：
Tavares, Fernando
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Fonseca, Maria Joao;Costa, Patricio;Tavares, Fernando
对公众对生物技术理解的担忧推动了教育倡议，以提高学生就有争议的问题做出科学持续决策的能力。了解学生对生物技术的看法对于确定这些计划的有效性至关重要。为了评估学生的认知是如何被调节的，这项研究评估了教育和性别对生物技术知识、态度、兴趣和重要性的影响。采用定量评估的方法，对698名高中生进行了问卷调查：理科学生生物(n=225)、非生物理科学生(n=210)和非理科学生(n=263)。这项研究的结果表明，教育在塑造学生的认知和行为意图方面比性别更具决定性，这些认知和行为意图受到认知、情感和动机因素的影响。学生，特别是来自非理科课程的学生，揭示了知识和兴趣的局限性，但承认了生物技术的重要性。大多数学生对不同的应用程序表现出积极的态度，但涉及到动物操纵时除外。确定了知识、态度、兴趣和生物技术重要性之间的正相关性。对这些发现的意义进行了讨论。
Concerns about public understanding of biotechnology have motivated educational initiatives to improve students' competency to make scientifically sustained decisions regarding controversial issues. Understanding students' perceptions about biotechnology is essential to determine the effectiveness of these programmes. To assess how students' perceptions are modulated, this study evaluates education and gender effects on knowledge, attitudes, interest, and importance given to biotechnology. Following a quantitative assessment approach, a questionnaire was administered to 698 high-school students engaged in three curricular formats: science students attending biology (n = 225); non-biology science students (n = 210); and non-science students (n = 263). The outcomes of this study suggest that education is more determining than gender in shaping students' perceptions and behavioural intentions, which are modulated by cognitive, affective and motivational elements. Students, particularly from non-science courses, revealed knowledge and interest limitations, but acknowledged the importance of biotechnology. Most students demonstrated positive attitudes towards different applications, except when animal manipulation was involved. Positive correlations between knowledge, attitudes, interest and importance attributed to biotechnology were identified. The implications of these findings are discussed.