Girls' Biology, Boys' Physics: Evidence from Free-Choice Science Learning Settings
ARTICLE
Ayelet Baram-Tsabari, Anat Yarden
Research in Science & Technological Education Volume 26, Number 1, ISSN 0263-5143
Abstract
Many of the explanations for girls' disinterest in physics focus on the role of the educational system in creating this situation. Here, we use evidence from free-choice science learning settings to study if this lack of interest is also expressed in non-school settings. Three sets of self-generated questions raised by children, adolescents and adults in the fields of biology and physics were used. The outcomes of this analysis show that the polar pattern previously described in school science settings, in which physics proves significantly less interesting to girls than to boys, while biology is of greater interest to girls than to boys, also appears in free-choice science learning settings. While boys develop an interest in physics with age, girls do not develop such an interest to the same degree. Thus, the initial gap in interest is probably not based on school-related causes, but its widening in later years probably is. A difference was also found between the genders in the type of information requested and in the motivation for raising the questions. Using topics that appeal to girls' interest as the context of science learning could prove beneficial in the process of mainstreaming science education. These topics can be identified using girls' spontaneous questions. (Contains 2 tables, 2 figures and 4 notes.)
Citation
Baram-Tsabari, A. & Yarden, A. (2008). Girls' Biology, Boys' Physics: Evidence from Free-Choice Science Learning Settings. Research in Science & Technological Education, 26(1), 75-92. Retrieved August 11, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/166637/.
This record was imported from
ERIC on December 3, 2015. [Original Record]
ERIC is sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education.
Copyright for this record is held by the content creator. For more details see ERIC's copyright policy.
Keywords
Cited By
View References & Citations Map-
Comparison of Technology Use Between Biology and Physics Teachers in a 1:1 Laptop Environment
Simon J. Crook, Manjula D. Sharma & Rachel Wilson, University of Sydney, Australia
Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education Vol. 15, No. 2 (June 2015) pp. 126–160
-
Gender Dependency and Cultural Independency of Science Interest in an Open and Distant Science Learning Environment
Ayelet Baram-Tsabari & Alaa Kaadni, Technion
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning Vol. 10, No. 2 (Apr 02, 2009)
These links are based on references which have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. If you see a mistake, please contact info@learntechlib.org.
