A Study Of Primary And Junior Middle School Students’ Perceptions Of Scientists And Science

Science education aims at not only improving the scientific literacy of the students, but also cultivating successors of science career. The scientists are the main creators of scientific knowledge and embody scientific literacy. Students’ perceptions of scientists are largely related to their scientific attitudes, personality traits and self-efficacy. The students’ perceptions of scientists act as one aspect of their scientific attitudes, which will effect their leaning and recognition of the nature of science. Therefore, exploring the students’ perceptions of scientists is of great importance and value for educators to help students to develop various images of scientist, form reasonable attitude of science, enhance the understanding of the nature of science, engage into science related career.This research summarized the results of the domestic and international researches about "the students’ perceptions of scientists and science", through the methods of literature research, which providing the theoretical basis for study. Then the research explored the current situation of primary and junior school students’ perceptions of scientists and science through the questionnaire.Results showed that:①Students held a stereotypic image of the scientist:"scientist doing work indoors","symbols of research","man""eyeglasses" and so on. Significant difference was found in different grade students on the images of scientists. It showed that there has significant difference in gender of scientists between girls and boys.②Students believed that the three things which scientists are most likely to do at work as follows:experiment, record data and observations; what unlikely to do were:lab cleanup, discussion, self-reflection. The characteristics of scientists, involving scientists cognitive, emotional and moral aspects.③Student expressed willingness to engage into science related career in these aspects "cognitive scientific work","scientists image","personal interest","the value of individuals to pursue"In order to counterbalance students’developing stereotypes about scientist, enhance more accurate perceptions and improve the students to get a comprehensive understanding of science. Science educators should be concerned about students’ perceptions of scientists, help students to establish the image of a wide range of scientists, improve the students’ interests and enthusiasm for science by a variety methods, which in turn will increase the willingness of students to careers in science.