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On the declining interest in physics in Singapore : issues and perspectives from teachers and students
Author
Oon, Pey Tee
Supervisor
Subramaniam, R. (Ramanathan)
Abstract
This study focuses on the development, validation, and application of instruments that aim to explore the factors influencing the take up of physics (FIT-UP) among students, both from the perspective of teachers as well as students. A total of 190 physics teachers from 100 secondary schools and junior colleges as well as 1071 physics students from 8 secondary and 8 junior colleges, participated in the study. The scale for physics teachers aimed to examine their overall views pertaining to the take-up of physics whereas the one for students aimed to assess the views between physics choosers and physics non-choosers. Among the aspects embedded in the scales were: utilitarian factor, intrinsic factor, social aspects, and subject matters. In dealing with the issue of declining interest in physics in Singapore and the ways to address this concern, the results of the study suggest that the focus needs to be not only on in-school factors such as creative teaching and incorporation of enrichment programs but also on external factors such as promoting to students the good career prospects that are available for physics graduates as well as the successful career paths of those who have physics degrees.
The scales were rigorously examined for their psychometric properties using the Rasch framework, a feature that is scarcely used in the science education literature. Among the properties assessed were effectiveness of the rating scales, reliability, unidimensionality, targeting, and invariance property of the scales. The refined scales showed good properties in relation to these.
Teachers highlighted that they were pessimistic about the market demand for physics graduates and are uncertain about the career prospects for physics graduates. On the contrary, students were more optimistic in this regard. However, the choosers of physics were more optimistic than the non-choosers. The students disputed the claim that their parents and close friends in school encourage them in studying physics. Generally, students showed low intention to land in physics-based careers despite the fact that they held quite positive attitudes towards several aspects of school physics. The teachers and students agreed unequivocally that physics is difficult and asserted that good grades are important to maintain ones’ interest in physics. The teachers and students also valued laboratory work that involves hands-on activities as well as out-of-school enrichment programmes in learning physics. Based on the insights from the teachers and students, recommendations to arrest the declining interest in physics at the school level were provided.
A qualitative study surveying physics teachers’ views on the steps that can be taken to encourage more students to study physics at the university, is also part of the present study. A total of 166 physics teachers contributed their opinions. Among their suggestions are review of the current physics curriculum, publicizing of the diversity of career opportunities available for physics graduates, improvement of the career prospects of physics graduates, making the teaching of physics fun, and conducting of enrichment programmes to reiterate the importance of physics. Other suggestions included providing incentives and scholarships for students to study physics at the university, publicizing of the fact that studying physics is ‘cool’, having more effective and passionate physics teachers, making physics as a prerequisite subject for some programmes at the university, and calls on the government to stress the importance of studying physics.
A minor additional study which aimed to shed light on what are the popular university programmes that attract physics students nowadays and what made them opt for the programmes is also presented in the study. A total of 728 secondary and 343 pre-university students took part in this study. The programme that appeared to be the most preferred by both the secondary and pre-university students is Business. Nonetheless, technical programmes such as Science and Engineering are not totally neglected by the students. I found that while many studies in the West have persuasively concluded that science is not of much desire for young students, it is not right to generalize it in the Asian context, or at least in the Singapore context. Though science is unlikely to be the first choice, it is not totally neglected by the youngsters here. It is still perceived to be important by these students. On the other hand, students tend to choose a university programme based on their interest and ability, with career aspirations and remuneration coming next. Gender differences were studied on these perspectives, and it was found that male students are inclined towards Engineering and Mathematics programmes whilst female students are inclined towards Arts and Social Science programmes. Ironically, female students endorsed the importance of career aspirations significantly more than their male counterparts when considering what programme of study at the university would set them on a certain career path in the future; they are more career-oriented than the males.
The present study contributes to the literature in not only offering insights from the scant Asian perspective but also from the views of stakeholders about the issues of the declining interest in physics. The rigorous psychometric assessment of the instruments using the Rasch model presents a systematic approach to evaluate the validity and reliability of the scales; this is also scant in the science education research literature.
The scales were rigorously examined for their psychometric properties using the Rasch framework, a feature that is scarcely used in the science education literature. Among the properties assessed were effectiveness of the rating scales, reliability, unidimensionality, targeting, and invariance property of the scales. The refined scales showed good properties in relation to these.
Teachers highlighted that they were pessimistic about the market demand for physics graduates and are uncertain about the career prospects for physics graduates. On the contrary, students were more optimistic in this regard. However, the choosers of physics were more optimistic than the non-choosers. The students disputed the claim that their parents and close friends in school encourage them in studying physics. Generally, students showed low intention to land in physics-based careers despite the fact that they held quite positive attitudes towards several aspects of school physics. The teachers and students agreed unequivocally that physics is difficult and asserted that good grades are important to maintain ones’ interest in physics. The teachers and students also valued laboratory work that involves hands-on activities as well as out-of-school enrichment programmes in learning physics. Based on the insights from the teachers and students, recommendations to arrest the declining interest in physics at the school level were provided.
A qualitative study surveying physics teachers’ views on the steps that can be taken to encourage more students to study physics at the university, is also part of the present study. A total of 166 physics teachers contributed their opinions. Among their suggestions are review of the current physics curriculum, publicizing of the diversity of career opportunities available for physics graduates, improvement of the career prospects of physics graduates, making the teaching of physics fun, and conducting of enrichment programmes to reiterate the importance of physics. Other suggestions included providing incentives and scholarships for students to study physics at the university, publicizing of the fact that studying physics is ‘cool’, having more effective and passionate physics teachers, making physics as a prerequisite subject for some programmes at the university, and calls on the government to stress the importance of studying physics.
A minor additional study which aimed to shed light on what are the popular university programmes that attract physics students nowadays and what made them opt for the programmes is also presented in the study. A total of 728 secondary and 343 pre-university students took part in this study. The programme that appeared to be the most preferred by both the secondary and pre-university students is Business. Nonetheless, technical programmes such as Science and Engineering are not totally neglected by the students. I found that while many studies in the West have persuasively concluded that science is not of much desire for young students, it is not right to generalize it in the Asian context, or at least in the Singapore context. Though science is unlikely to be the first choice, it is not totally neglected by the youngsters here. It is still perceived to be important by these students. On the other hand, students tend to choose a university programme based on their interest and ability, with career aspirations and remuneration coming next. Gender differences were studied on these perspectives, and it was found that male students are inclined towards Engineering and Mathematics programmes whilst female students are inclined towards Arts and Social Science programmes. Ironically, female students endorsed the importance of career aspirations significantly more than their male counterparts when considering what programme of study at the university would set them on a certain career path in the future; they are more career-oriented than the males.
The present study contributes to the literature in not only offering insights from the scant Asian perspective but also from the views of stakeholders about the issues of the declining interest in physics. The rigorous psychometric assessment of the instruments using the Rasch model presents a systematic approach to evaluate the validity and reliability of the scales; this is also scant in the science education research literature.
Date Issued
2012
Call Number
QC47.S55 Oon
Date Submitted
2012