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Science laboratory classroom environments in secondary chemistry classes in Singapore
Citation
Wong, A. F. L., & Fraser, B. J. (1995, November). Science laboratory classroom environments in secondary chemistry classes in Singapore. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education Conference,Hobart, Australia.
Author
Wong, Angela F. L.
•
Fraser, Barry J.
Abstract
This study in science laboratory classroom environment is distinctive in that it was the first of such studies to use multilevel analysis as a method of data analysis to study the effects of classroom environment dimensions, and a first to examine the differences in perceptions between students of different abilities. The primary aim was to examine the relationships between students' attitudes towards chemistry and their perceived laboratory environments as assessed by a modified version of the Science Laboratory Environment Inventory. Another purpose was to explore the differences in perceptions between teachers and students, boys and girls, and higher and average ability students. The sample consisted of 1,592 final year secondary school (i.e., Year 10) students studying chemistry and their chemistry teachers in 56 classes from 28 randomly selected coeducational government schools of similar standard in Singapore.
The investigation of attitude-environment associations involved using simple, multiple and canonical correlational analyses, and multilevel analysis. For the purpose of exploring differences in perceptions between the different groups, multivariate analyses of variance (MANOV A) for repeated measures were performed with the relevant variables.
The findings revealed the existence of positive associations between the nature of the chemistry laboratory classroom environment and the students' attitudinal outcomes. In addition, it was found that perceptions of students and teachers differed; that girls held more favourable perceptions than boys; and the students of different abilities differed only in their preferred perceptions.
Date Issued
November 1995