Examination of Gender Differences on Cognitive and Motivational Factors that Influence 8th Graders’ Science Achievement in Turkey

Ömer Acar; Lütfullah Türkmen; Ahmet Bilgin

doi:10.12973/eurasia.2015.1372a

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Ömer Acar ¹ ^* , Lütfullah Türkmen ², Ahmet Bilgin ¹

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¹ Kocaeli University² Uşak University^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Background:
We examined the influence of several students’ cognitive and motivational factors on 8th graders’ science achievement and also gender differences on factors that significantly contribute to the science achievement model.

Materials and methods:
A total of 99 girls and 83 boys responded all the instruments used in this study.

Results:
Results showed that girls outperformed boys on science achievement. Furthermore, regression analyses showed a model including initial conceptual knowledge, scientific reasoning, and utility value of science as independent variables best predicted science achievement. Results also showed girls and boys did not differ on initial conceptual knowledge and scientific reasoning but on utility value of science.

Conclusions:
Implications for science education were discussed according to the findings.

Keywords

gender differences
conceptual knowledge
science achievement
scientific reasoning
utility value of science

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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, Volume 11, Issue 5, 2015, 1027-1040

https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1372a

Publication date: 25 Aug 2015

Article Views: 3877

Article Downloads: 1240

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How to cite this article

APA

Acar, Ö., Türkmen, L., & Bilgin, A. (2015). Examination of Gender Differences on Cognitive and Motivational Factors that Influence 8th Graders’ Science Achievement in Turkey. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 11(5), 1027-1040. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1372a

Vancouver

Acar Ö, Türkmen L, Bilgin A. Examination of Gender Differences on Cognitive and Motivational Factors that Influence 8th Graders’ Science Achievement in Turkey. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2015;11(5):1027-40. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1372a

AMA

Acar Ö, Türkmen L, Bilgin A. Examination of Gender Differences on Cognitive and Motivational Factors that Influence 8th Graders’ Science Achievement in Turkey. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2015;11(5), 1027-1040. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1372a

Chicago

Acar, Ömer, Lütfullah Türkmen, and Ahmet Bilgin. "Examination of Gender Differences on Cognitive and Motivational Factors that Influence 8th Graders’ Science Achievement in Turkey". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2015 11 no. 5 (2015): 1027-1040. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1372a

Harvard

Acar, Ö., Türkmen, L., and Bilgin, A. (2015). Examination of Gender Differences on Cognitive and Motivational Factors that Influence 8th Graders’ Science Achievement in Turkey. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 11(5), pp. 1027-1040. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1372a

MLA

Acar, Ömer et al. "Examination of Gender Differences on Cognitive and Motivational Factors that Influence 8th Graders’ Science Achievement in Turkey". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 11, no. 5, 2015, pp. 1027-1040. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2015.1372a