Changing attitudes

By John Parkinson2008-09-01T00:00:00

A bored student listening to a science teacher

Source: Shutterstock

Durham University researchers studied why students lose interest in science as they go through secondary school and why boys favour science more than girls

Researchers from Durham University, Patrick Barmby, Per Kind and Karen Jones, studied two prominent patterns in students' attitudes to science: the steady decline in students' disposition towards science as they go through secondary school; and boys' more positive attitude to science compared with girls.¹ The researchers used an 'attitude' questionnaire, which produces information on students' views on learning science in school, practical work in science, science outside school etc.

Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor.

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more:

unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
applications for funding to support your lessons

Set up your Teach Chemistry account

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.