Scientists Reflect on Why They Chose to Study Science
Scientists Reflect on Why They Chose to Study Science
复制标题
科学家反思他们为什么选择学习科学
DOI：
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发表时间：
2013
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
N. Longnecker
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
G. Venville;L. Rennie;Colin Hanbury;N. Longnecker
在文学和媒体中普遍提出的一个问题涉及进入并留在“科学管道”中的学生比例下降，以及包括澳大利亚和新西兰在内的许多国家是否有足够的初露头角的科学家来填补未来几年的研究和工业职位。此外，令人关切的是，继续学习科学的学生人数不足，无法确保公民知情和具有科学素养。本文提出的研究的目的是调查当前澳大利亚和新西兰的科学家，探索他们选择学习科学的原因。通过SurveyGizmo的链接进行了一项在线调查。所呈现的数据来自726名受访者，他们回答了22个强迫选择项目和一个关于他们选择学习科学的原因的开放式问题。定量资料采用t检验和方差分析，然后进行邓肯多重极差检验，定性资料进行专题分析。定量数据显示，科学家报告选择学习科学的主要原因是因为他们对科学感兴趣，因为他们擅长科学。中学科学课和一个特定的科学教师也被发现是重要的因素。科学的声望和财政方面的考虑则不那么重要。定性数据扩展了这些发现，并表明对科学的热情和/或对世界的好奇心是重要因素，也强调了娱乐活动的重要性，例如儿童时期的露营。用一位受访者的话来说，“人们不是为了金钱和荣誉而进入科学的。对知识和科学的热情总是吸引我进入这个领域。
A concern commonly raised in literature and in media relates to the declining proportions of students who enter and remain in the ‘science pipeline’, and whether many countries, including Australia and New Zealand, have enough budding scientists to fill research and industry positions in the coming years. In addition, there is concern that insufficient numbers of students continue in science to ensure an informed, scientifically literate citizenry. The aim of the research presented in this paper was to survey current Australian and New Zealand scientists to explore their reasons for choosing to study science. An online survey was conducted via a link to SurveyGizmo. The data presented are from 726 respondents who answered 22 forced-choice items and an open-ended question about the reasons they chose to study science. The quantitative data were analysed using t tests and analyses of variance followed by Duncan’s multiple range tests, and the qualitative data were analysed thematically. The quantitative data showed that the main reasons scientists reported choosing to study science were because they were interested in science and because they were good at science. Secondary school science classes and one particular science teacher also were found to be important factors. Of much less importance were the prestige of science and financial considerations. The qualitative data expanded on these findings and showed that passion for science and/or curiosity about the world were important factors and also highlighted the importance of recreational pursuits, such as camping when a child. In the words of one respondent, ‘People don’t go into science for the money and glory. It’s passion for knowledge and science that always attracted me to the field’.