Science and Scientists as Viewed by Freshmen Education Students of Arellano University

Discipline: General Science

The study investigated freshmen education students’ perceptions

regarding science and scientists. Participants include 41 freshmen students

(12 male, 29 female) who were administered the Draw-A-Scientist-Test

(Chambers, 1983). Each participant was asked to draw a scientist doing

science and describe what the scientist was doing through captions,

statements, and free writing. Results revealed some commonalities in the

stereotypic perceptions regarding scientists. The findings generally showed

that scientists are male, Filipinos, elderly to middle-aged, working in a

laboratory alone. Stereotypic images include scientists are having glasses,

facial hair and/or crazy hair, and wearing lab coats. A scientist is pictured

as devoted to humankind’s wellbeing. They are pictured as busy working

with their frantic intellectual creativity that they overlook their appearance.

Conclusions from this research and implications for science study and

teaching curricula are discussed.

Philippine E-Journals