Examining of Preservice Science Teachers’ Conceptions of Learning Science: A Q Method Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the pre-service science teachers’ views about learning science. Learning science means to use specialized conceptual language in reading and writing, reasoning and problem solving, daily life, and leading practical actions in the laboratory. This study was designed using Q-method. Ten pre-service science teachers voluntarily participated in this study. Data were collected by using ‘The Conceptions of Learning Science’ (COLS) questionnaire. The significance of the factors was demonstrated by using the ‘Graphical Rotation’ and ‘Varimax Rotation’ analysis in the PQmethod software. According to the results of Q analysis, participants thought that learning science is not related to science achievement or getting high scores from exams, but they stated that learning science means explaining nature and the topics related the nature. They also believed that science should be learned not by memorizing, that should be learned by experimenting, and by integrating it into daily life. It has not been found any relationship between participants’ views of learning science and their understanding of nature of science. It is recommended that empirical studies might be conducted in future studies to improve the understanding of pre-service and in-service teachers about learning science.