Table 3 The frequency distributions of teachers’ responses to the NSAAQ
Item | Percentages | Item | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Viewpoint A | A not B | A > B | A = B | B > A | B not A | Viewpoint B |
3. Scientific knowledge is subjective | 25.3 | 6.1 | 10.1 | 14.1 | 44.4 | Scientific knowledge is objective |
4. Scientific knowledge does not change over time once it has been discovered | 5.1 | 0 | 0 | 11.1 | 83.8 | Scientific knowledge usually changes over time as the result of new research and perspectives |
14. The scientific method can provide absolute proof | 20.2 | 22.2 | 9.1 | 27.3 | 21.2 | It is impossible to gather enough evidence to prove something true |
15. If data was gathered during an experiment it can be considered reliable andtrustworthy | 6.1 | 9.1 | 11.1 | 29.3 | 44.4 | The reliability and trustworthiness of data should always be questioned |
18. A theory should be considered inaccurate if a single fact exists that contradicts that theory | 23.5 | 30.6 | 9.2 | 19.4 | 17.3 | A theory can still be useful even if one or more facts contradict that theory |
20. In order to interpret the data they gather scientists rely on their prior knowledge, logic, and creativity | 43.9 | 29.6 | 8.2 | 5.1 | 13.3 | In order to interpret the data they have gather scientists rely on logic only and avoid using their creativity or prior knowledge |
23. Two scientists (with the same expertise) reviewing the same data will reach the same conclusions | 20.4 | 24.5 | 24.5 | 13.3 | 17.3 | Two scientists (with the same expertise) reviewing the same data will often reach different conclusions |
25. The observations made by two different scientists about the same phenomenon will be the same | 12.1 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 32.3 | 39.4 | The observations made by two different scientists about the same phenomenon can be different |