Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2012)

Students’ Science Knowledge as a Constraint In Developing Interests in Science Studies among Secondary School Learners in Tanzania

https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v1i2.153
John F. Kalolo
Kafanabo
kitila
Masath
Perpetua J. Urio
Florence Kyaruzi
Nzilano
Koda
Benedictor Lema
Mary Zacharia Charw
Julias J. Mbuna

Corresponding Author(s) : John F. Kalolo

john.kalolo@udsm.ac.tz

Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), Vol. 1 No. 2 (2012)

Abstract

The paper examines how students’ science knowledge is a constraint in developing
interests in science studies. There are three objectives that guided the study on which
this paper is based: examining student’s background knowledge about science and its
related careers; assessing student’s awareness on science related professions; and
examining the availability of various sources of science knowledge in schools for
developing interest in science subjects in secondary schools. A total of 246 respondents
participated in the study; and these included 60 teachers, 180 students and 6 heads of
schools. The data were collected through questionnaire, interview, focus group
discussion, and observation checklist. The data obtained was analyzed both
quantitatively, by calculation of frequencies and percentages; and qualitatively, through
thematic or content analysis. The findings revealed that students had low knowledge
about science and its related occupations, and this was reflected by inadequate and
unreliable sources of science information, poor mythology, and stereotypes towards
science and its related professions. In turn, these interfere with students’ learning,
resulting to dissuasion in selecting science subjects as pathways to one’s future career.
The study also identified differences between student’s science knowledge base, which
were influenced by poor identity and perception towards science, scientists, and
towards science related careers.

Students’ Science Knowledge as a Constraint In Developing Interests in Science Studies among Secondary School Learners in Tanzania . (2022). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 1(2). https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v1i2.153
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Students’ Science Knowledge as a Constraint In Developing Interests in Science Studies among Secondary School Learners in Tanzania . (2022). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 1(2). https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v1i2.153
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