Attitudes of university students towards biotechnology and its

Abstract

Biotechnology education in school curriculum found to elementary level from university level. The role of primary science teachers and secondary biology teachers is of great importance in equipping students with knowledge about biotechnology. This study examined Turkish university students' attitudes (n = 242) toward biotechnology and its applications. For these purposes, the attitudes scale towards biotechnology is used developed by the researchers has been applied to 242 teachers and secondary biology teachers and/or biologist. The data has been analyzed by a computer statistics programme, SPSS. We found that no significant mean difference was observed according to gender and years in school as independent variables (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were found between science education department and biology department students (F = 5.472, df = 1 p < 0.05). Science educatithird and fourth-year students of university who have been studying to become primary science on department students showed significantly higher positive attitudes biotechnology and biotechnological applications than did biology department students. No significant interaction between gender and years in school; gender and department; years in school and department was observed (p > 0.05). However, significant interaction between gender, years in school and department was observed (p < 0.05).

C1 [Kahraman, Sibel] Inonu Univ, Fac Educ, Dept Sci Educ, TR-44280 Kampus, Malatya, Turkey.

[Ocal, Evrim] Inonu Univ, Inst Sci Educ, Dept Elemantary Educ, TR-44280 Kampus, Malatya, Turkey.