Assessing the Science Interest, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy of Qatari Students at the Preparatory, Secondary, and University Levels

Ziad Said; Ahmed A. Al-Emadi; Heather L. Friesen; Elina Adam

doi:10.29333/ejmste/94733

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Ziad Said ¹ ^* , Ahmed A. Al-Emadi ², Heather L. Friesen ³, Elina Adam ¹

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¹ College of the North Atlantic–Qatar, QATAR² Qatar University, QATAR³ Abu Dhabi University, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

A large sample (n = 1,799) of Qatari female and male students at the preparatory, secondary, and university levels responded to Likert items about their interest, attitude, and self-efficacy regarding science. The items were similar to those of TIMSS and PISA, but improved upon them in several ways. The findings suggest that Qatari students are positive in their interest, attitude, and self-efficacy, but not as positive as TIMSS and PISA report. The findings raise an important question: If the students’ interest, attitude, and self-efficacy are positive, then why do the students have relatively low achievement scores on TIMSS and PISA? The answer may be the instructional methods and conditions of a developing educational system. The present findings have implications for all countries that use TIMSS and PISA, particularly those countries with developing educational systems, rapidly expanding economies, and an increasing need for students in science careers.

Keywords

scientific literacy
assessment
interest
attitude
self-efficacy

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, 2018, Volume 14, Issue 12, Article No: em1618

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/94733

Publication date: 01 Sep 2018

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How to cite this article

APA

Said, Z., Al-Emadi, A. A., Friesen, H. L., & Adam, E. (2018). Assessing the Science Interest, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy of Qatari Students at the Preparatory, Secondary, and University Levels. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(12), em1618. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/94733

Vancouver

Said Z, Al-Emadi AA, Friesen HL, Adam E. Assessing the Science Interest, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy of Qatari Students at the Preparatory, Secondary, and University Levels. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2018;14(12):em1618. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/94733

AMA

Said Z, Al-Emadi AA, Friesen HL, Adam E. Assessing the Science Interest, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy of Qatari Students at the Preparatory, Secondary, and University Levels. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2018;14(12), em1618. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/94733

Chicago

Said, Ziad, Ahmed A. Al-Emadi, Heather L. Friesen, and Elina Adam. "Assessing the Science Interest, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy of Qatari Students at the Preparatory, Secondary, and University Levels". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2018 14 no. 12 (2018): em1618. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/94733

Harvard

Said, Z., Al-Emadi, A. A., Friesen, H. L., and Adam, E. (2018). Assessing the Science Interest, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy of Qatari Students at the Preparatory, Secondary, and University Levels. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(12), em1618. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/94733

MLA

Said, Ziad et al. "Assessing the Science Interest, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy of Qatari Students at the Preparatory, Secondary, and University Levels". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 14, no. 12, 2018, em1618. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/94733