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The reliability of some VOSTS items when used with preservice secondary science teachers in England
Author(s) -
Botton Chris,
Brown Chris
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of research in science teaching
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.067
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1098-2736
pISSN - 0022-4308
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2736(199801)35:1<53::aid-tea4>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - science education , mathematics education , context (archaeology) , psychology , selection (genetic algorithm) , reliability (semiconductor) , pedagogy , computer science , paleontology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , biology
A selection of Views on Science–Technology–Society (VOSTS) items was made and administered to a group of 29 postgraduate trainee science teachers. Two sections of VOSTS were addressed: VOSTS 1 (Defining Science and Technology) and VOSTS 9 (Epistemology). Reliability was determined by a cross‐tabulation procedure following a retest. All 27 items selected were generally found to be reliable, although when put to a severe treatment, 24 of 27 items were found to be reliable. A cluster analysis of the responses was also carried out: Two main clusters were obtained for VOSTS 1 and three for VOSTS 9. The findings are discussed, compared with those from the Canadian study, and reviewed in the context of professional development of science teachers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 35: 53‐71, 1998.