Dippel Elizabeth A, Mechels Keegan B, Griese Emily R, Laufmann Rachel N, Weimer Jill M
Perspectives, St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine.
S D Med. 2016 Aug;69(8):343-349.
Compared to national numbers, South Dakota has a higher proportion of students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Interest in science can be influenced by exposure to science through formal and informal learning. Informal science activities (including exposures and participation) have been found to elicit higher levels of interest in science, likely impacting one's attitude towards science overall. The current study goal is to better understand the levels and relationships of attitude, exposure, and participation in science that were present among students and parents attending a free science festival.
The project collected survey data from 65 students and 79 parents attending a science festival ranging from age 6 to 65.
Informal science participation is significantly related to science attitudes in students and informal science exposure is not. No relationship was found for parents between science attitudes and participation.
Students who indicated high levels of informal science participation (i.e., reading science-themed books) were positively related to their attitudes regarding science. However, informal science exposures, such as attending the zoo or independently visiting a science lab, was not significantly associated with positive attitudes towards science.
与全国数据相比，南达科他州对科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域感兴趣的学生比例更高。对科学的兴趣可能会受到通过正规和非正规学习接触科学的影响。已发现非正规科学活动（包括接触和参与）能引发对科学更高水平的兴趣，这可能会影响一个人对科学的总体态度。当前的研究目标是更好地了解参加免费科学节的学生和家长对科学的态度、接触和参与的程度及相互关系。
该项目收集了65名学生和79名年龄在6岁至65岁之间参加科学节的家长的调查数据。
非正规科学参与与学生的科学态度显著相关，而非正规科学接触则不然。未发现家长的科学态度与参与之间存在关联。
表示非正规科学参与程度高（即阅读科学主题书籍）的学生与他们对科学的态度呈正相关。然而，非正规科学接触，如参观动物园或独立参观科学实验室，与对科学的积极态度没有显著关联。
