Covariance Structure Analysis of Science Process Skills Affected by Students' Cognitive and Affective Characteristics in Elementary and Middle School

초 . 중학생들의 과학탐구능력에 미치는 인지적, 정의적 특성에 대한 공변량 구조분석

The purpose of this study was to analyze the structural model of causal effects of students' variables on science process skills. Student characteristics investigated in the study included attitude related to the science, logical thinking ability, scientific experiences, cognitive style. Covariance structural modeling procedures were used to test causal inferences about hypothesized relationships. The sample consisted of 319 6th grade students and 321 8th grade students in Seoul City, Korea. Five instruments were used in the study, TSPS(test of science process skills), GALT(group assessment of logical thinking), CEFT(children embedded figures test), questionnaire of attitude related to the science, questionnaire of scientific experience. For statistical analysis, the study adopted the structural equation modeling with LlSREL, a computer statistical program developed by J reskog and S rbom. Major findings of the study are as follows:1) Logical thinking ability has a most strong direct effect on science process skills. 2) The structural coefficient of scientific experience influence on attitude related to the science has the greatest direct one than the others in the covariance structural model. According to the results of this study, it is very importance that various scientific experiences, particularly hands-on activity, should be offer to students to improve science process skills. Also, understanding the relationships of student variable to science process skills will be helpful to decision making on the part of curriculum developers, science teachers and researchers.