Abstract
The study is focused on the investigation of students’ attitudes to the subject of Chemistry on Czech secondary grammar schools. The partial aims are to find out differences between results with respect to gender, year of study and favourite subject. A questionnaire with 5-point Likert type items was used as a research tool. The sample size contained 552 Czech secondary grammar school students. By factor analysis the items were distributed into four categories: 1. The relevance of chemistry, 2. Popularity and difficulty of chemistry, 3. Chemical aids and laboratory experiments, 4. Interest in chemistry. The overall score indicated neutral students’ attitudes toward chemistry. There was a statistically significant difference between boys and girls. Boys achieved higher score in comparison with girls. Boys perceived chemistry positively and girls neutrally. The youngest students perceived chemistry positively, others had neutral attitude toward chemistry. The conclusion includes further possibilities of research in this area.References
ALLPORT, G. W. Attitudes. In Fishbein, M. (Ed.)Readings in attitude theory and measurement. New York : J. Wiley, 1967, s. 3–13.
BARNES, G., MCINERNEY, D. M., MARSH, H. W. Exploring sex differences in science enrolmentintentions: An application of the general model of academic choice. Australian Educational Researcher. 2005, roč. 32, č. 2, s. 1–23.
CHEUNG, D. Students‘ attitudes toward chemistry lessons: The interaction effect between grade level and gender. Research in Science Education. 2009, roč. 39, č. 1, s. 75–91.
GEDROVICS, J., BÍLEK,M., JANIUK, R.M., MOJSA, R.,MOZHEIKA, D., ŘÁDKOVÁ, O. Trendy v zájmech a postojích patnáctiletých žáků k přírodním vědám. Acta Facultatis Paedagogicae Universitatis Tyrnaviensis, 2008. Série B, 12, s. 13–17.
HILBING, C., BARKE, H. D. An idea of science: Attitudes towards chemistry and chemical education expressed by artistic paintings. Chemistry Education: Research and Practice in Europe, 2000, roč. 1, č. 3, s. 365–374.
HÖFER, G., SVOBODA, E. Některé výsledky celostátního výzkumu „Vztah žáků ZŠ a SŠ k výuce obecně a zvláště pak k výuce fyziky". In Rauner, K. (ed.): Moderní trendy v přípravě učitelů fyziky 2, Rámcové vzdělávací programy. Sborník z konference. Plzeň : Západočeská univerzita, 2005, s. 52–70.
HOFSTEIN, A., BEN-ZVI, R., SAMUEL, D., TAMIR, P. Attitudes of Israeli highschool students toward chemistry and physics: A comparative study. Science Education. 1977, roč. 6, č. 2, s. 259–268.
KAN, A., AKBAS, A. Affective Factors That Influence Chemistry Achievement (Attitude and Self Efficacy) and The Power Of These Factors To Predict Chemistry Achievement-I. Journal of Turkish Science Education. 2006, roč. 3, č. 1, s. 76–85.
KOBALLA, T. R., GLYNN, S. M. Attitudinal and motivational constructs in science learning. In Abell, S. K. and Lederman, N. G. (ed.) Handbook of Research on Science Education. Mahwah : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2007, s. 75–102.
KRECH, D., CRUTCHFIELD, R. S., BALLACHEY, E. L. Člověk v společnosti. Bratislava : SAV, 1968.
KUBIATKO, M., ŠVANDOVÁ, K., ŠIBOR, J., ŠKODA, J. Vnímání chemie žáky druhého stupně základních škol. Pedagogická orientace. 2012, roč. 22, č. 1, s. 82–96.
MENIS, J. Attitudes towards School, Chemistry and Science among Upper Secondary Chemistry Students in the United States. Research in Science & Technological Education. 1989, roč. 7, č. 2, s. 183–190.
NAKONEČNÝ, M. Psychologie osobnosti. Vyd. 2. Praha : Academia, 1998, 333 s.
OZDEN, M. An Investigation of Some Factors Affecting Attitudes toward Chemistry in University Education. Essays in Education, Special Edition, 2008, s. 90–99.
PAVELKOVÁ, I., ŠKALOUDOVÁ, A., HRABAL, V. Analýza vyučovacích předmětů na základě výpovědí žáků. Pedagogika. 2010, roč. 55, č. 1, s. 38–61.
PROKOP, P., KOMORNÍKOVÁ, M. Postoje k prírodopisu u žiakov druhého stupňa základných škôl. Pedagogika. 2007, roč. 57, č. 1, s. 37–46.
RAMSDEN, J. M. Mission impossible? Can anything be done about attitudes to science? International Journal of Science Education. 1998, roč. 20, č. 2, s. 125–137.
SALMI, H. Science centers as leasing laboratories: Experience of Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre. International Journal of Technology Management. 2003, roč. 25, č. 5, s. 460–476.
SALTA, K., TZOUGRAKI, Ch. Attitudes toward chemistry among 11th grade students in high schools in Greece. Science Education. 2004, roč. 88, č. 4, s. 535–547.
SEARS, P. B., KESSEN, W. Statement of purposes and objectives of science education in school. Journal of Research in Science Teaching. 1964, roč. 2, č. 1, s. 3–6.
SJÖBERG, S., SCHREINER, C. Science education and youthďs identity construction — two incompatible projects? In Corrigan, D., Dillon, J. and Gunstone, R. (ed.): The Re-emergence of Values in the Science Curriculum. Rotterdam : Sense Publishers. 2006 [online] [cit. 12. 2. 2012]. Dostupné z: http://folk.uio.no/sveinsj/Values-ROSE-Schreiner-Sjoberg.pdf
THOMAS, W. I., ZNANIECKY, F. Polish peasant in Europe and America. Boston : Badger, 1918 sv. 1.
VESELSKÝ, M. Motivácia žiakov učiť sa. Bratislava : Univerzita Komenského, 2010, 116 s.
VESELSKÝ, M., HRUBIŠKOVÁ, H. Zájem žáků o učební předmět chemie. Pedagogická orientace. 2009, roč. 19, č. 3, s. 45–64.
WOLF, S. J., FRASER, B. J. Learning environment, attitudes and achievement among middle-school science students using inquiry-based laboratory activities. Research in Science Education. 2008, roč. 38, č. 3, s. 321–341.