Skip to main content

Table 7 A classification of the reported factors that might influence evolution acceptance

From: Evolution acceptance among pre-service primary teachers

A. Pedagogical factor

Brief description of the factors

Fossil related issues

• Inadequate knowledge of fossil record

• Lack of understanding of the fossil evidence

• Strength of the evidence

Knowledge and understanding

• Not enough knowledge about the ToE

• Incorrect understanding of NOS

• Difficulty to understand mechanism and patterns of evolution

• Insufficient knowledge about ToE as a scientific hypothesis

Misconceptions

Misconceptions about the modern ToE

Epistemological view

Doubt about socially constructed knowledge

Relating science and religion

Difficulty or inability to relate the two systems of knowledge

Non-pedagogical Factors

Brief description of the factors

Religion oriented issues

• Issue of relating science and religion

• Literal interpretation of the holy script

• Fear of rejecting God

• Fear of questioning/losing/doubting faith

• Fear of suffusing religion and evolution

• Fear/difficulty of adapting their religious views

Spirituality

• Fear of spiritual void

• Fear of lack of purpose

• Fear of loss of human dignity

Psychological issues

 

• Essentialism

• Teleological thinking

Society oriented factors

• Social bonds:

• Fear of disapproval from the family

• Fear of betraying the organisational authority (Church) and fellow believers (wider family)

• Concerns about the morality of society

Cognitive attributes

• Difficulty or inability to have Tree thinking, Statistical thinking, Probabilistic thinking, Cognitive thinking, Logical and Critical thinking

Political affiliations

Association with who suggest, support or attack the idea.

Demographic factors

Race, gender, academic majors etc.