The role of motivation and perceptions about science laboratory environment on lower secondary students’ attitude towards science

The findings of this study suggest that students' motivation level and their perception about science laboratory learning environment predicts their attitude towards learning science. The findings of this study, in turn, calls for the teachers to design their teaching considering motivational factors particularly the value of the task; self-efficacy and regulation. Laboratory learning is an integral part of science teaching in Malaysia. In ensuring the laboratory lessons are meaningful, the findings of current suggest that the approach used by the teacher should create a positive learning environment that encourages students' cohesiveness; the environment allows integration of theory and practical lessons, and the environment is conducive for students to perform the laboratory activity.

This study corresponds well to the Ministry of Education's initiatives in improving science teaching and learning. The underperformance of Malaysian students in the global assessment, TIMSS and PISA have again alarmed the educators as well as the Malaysian government. To address the issue of students’ underperformance in science and mathematics in the global arena, necessary steps have been taken by the government. This includes initiatives such as reforming of the primary and secondary school curriculum from exam-oriented system to more school-based assessment beginning from 2011. This study partly contributes to the Ministry’s initiative in reforming science education in Malaysia.

In terms of research design, a survey was performed administrating the questionnaires to the students from the Northern region of Malaysia. The participants were from government-funded schools. Generally, government-funded schools throughout the country share many similarities. However, to further improve the generalization of the findings, it is recommended replicating the study involving students from different part of Malaysia near future. Additionally, qualitative findings would be able to provide further insights of the quantitative data. As such it is recommended for the students to be interviewed to better understand students’ motivation and attitude and their perceptions of the learning environment.

Acknowledgements

Fundamental Research Grant numbered 203/PGURU/6711343 from the Ministry of Education, Malaysia, has supported this research.