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USING THE DAST-C TO EXPLORE COLOMBIAN AND BOLIVIAN STUDENTS’ IMAGES OF SCIENTISTS

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Abstract

The way in which students view science and its practitioners, particularly during their late elementary and early secondary grade levels, has been at the core of numerous studies dating back to research by Mead & Metraux (Science 126:384–390, 1957). In this study, we used the Draw-a-Scientist Test Checklist developed by Finson, Beaver & Cramond (Sch Sci Math 95(4):195–205, 1995) to explore and document Colombian and Bolivian students’ perceptions of scientists. Despite the wealth of information from years of study, there is a lack of research on images held by students in Latin American nations. This study involved Colombian and Bolivian students (N = 1,017) in 5th to 11th grades and was aimed at providing an original account of how these students picture scientists and science. Results suggest differences on how students perceive scientists based on nationality, grade and school type. We discuss how features may be associated with educational and socioeconomic status in each school community.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA

    William Medina-Jerez

  2. Howard University, Washington, DC, USA

    Kyndra V. Middleton

  3. Science Teacher at Juan Lechin Oquendo High School, La Paz, Bolivia

    Walter Orihuela-Rabaza

Authors
  1. William Medina-Jerez
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  2. Kyndra V. Middleton
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  3. Walter Orihuela-Rabaza
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Correspondence to William Medina-Jerez.

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Medina-Jerez, W., Middleton, K.V. & Orihuela-Rabaza, W. USING THE DAST-C TO EXPLORE COLOMBIAN AND BOLIVIAN STUDENTS’ IMAGES OF SCIENTISTS. Int J of Sci and Math Educ 9, 657–690 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-010-9218-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-010-9218-3

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