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Asia-Pacific Forum
on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 12, Issue 1, Article 5
(Jun., 2011) |
In this study, images of scientist were found conflicted with previous studies. Previous studies argued that majority of students in all age lines drew elderly-aged male scientists wearing white lab coats and glasses with facial hair and doing research indoors with chemicals (Chambers, 1983; Symington and Spurling, 1990; Finson, 2002; Turkmen, 2008; Jones and Bangert, 2006). However, the results showed that students perceived scientist as being males who are a younger age, do their work indoors, smiling while working, and dedicated to their life for humanity. The image of scientists having facial growth of hair, wearing lab coats, and doing dangerous things, storybook stereotype, relevant captions and presence of light bulb were less presented in the drawings of secondary level students. In addition, compared to Speering and Rennie (1996) findings, stereotypical images of science and scientists were found to very less in secondary school students compared to elementary school students. It would be because of when students get older the change of being exposed to many different models of science that involve scientist practicing normal science help them to have more accurate image of science and scientists.
In this study, historically and culturally image of scientists, scientists with large brain, elderly or middle age scientist and indication of secrecy were merely existed. This was opposite to former studies where the scientist has bald head is not existed in the drawings.
Like as Turkmen (2008), this study showed that happy and smile expressions of scientist while doing their research (22%) was increased compared to angry, crazy expressions (4.7%). The ethnic representation is not exist because all Turks are Caucasian, subjects of this study not see black, Hispanic or Asian people around them very often.
The author argues that students’ stereotype image of scientists is mostly coming from popular culture. According to Gardner (1980) students’ mental schema is affected by cultural models to which students are exposed. In the Turkish language the word “scientist” means “bilim adamı”. In translation from Turkish to English “bilim” means “science” and “adam” means “man”. So scientist in Turkish means “science man” It may result in stereotypical image of male scientist in the drawings of Turkish students. For this reason, in Turkey, science teachers should try to use “bilim insanı” meaning “science person” while teaching science.
Teachers need to teach differently to change these stereotypes perceptions of science and scientists. As well students should be exposed to positive images of science and scientists (Speering & Rennie, 1996). Because most of the students have no exposure to scientists practicing normal science in different settings during early ages, teachers should expose students to many different models of science and scientists while practicing normal science beginning of kindergarten through high school.
