Abstract:
One important expected outcome of the teaching
of integrated science was to develop a favourable
attitude towards science. The purpose of t h i s research
i s to investigate the attitude of students who had
followed the integrated science course for four years.
The changes made i n the Junior School Science Curriculum
i n most countries and the changes made i n S r i Lanka were
discussed. The objectives of the new. integrated science
curriculum are defined.
I n i t i a l l y a survey of research l i t e r a t u r e related
to the attitudes towards science was. undertaken. These
were discussed under the sub-headings school l e v e l,
higher l e v e l and school and higher l e v e l studies. I t
was observed that the attitude to science WQLS more
favourable i n the elementary school but declined through
the junior school.
For the purpose of t h i s research a L i k e r t Type
attitude scale was constructed. F i r s t a p i l o t study
was done. The responses were studied and the f i n a l
form of the L i k e r t type scale consisting of t h i r t y four
statements was prepared. This was administered to a
random sample consisting of four boys* ,two g i r l s * and
six mixed schools. The questionnaire was scored and
analysed by the Data General Computer at the S t a t i s t i c a l
Unit of the University of Colombo.
Factor Analysis was done using p r i n c i p a l component
method. Four factors emerged i n t h i s analysis. They
were named as
i ) Motivation to learn science,
i i ) Reaction to learning science,
i i i ) S c i e n t i f i c knowledge, and
i v ) U t i l i t y value of science.
These were compared with the objectives of the integrated
science Curriculum of S r i Lanka, Suggestions for Curriculum
Development and Science Teaching were made on the basis
of the findings.
