Satu kajian tinjauan tentang tahap literasi sains di kalangan orang awam di Malaysia
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Date
2000
Authors
Sulaiman, Seth
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Abstract
This is an exploratory study which has two main objectives. Firstly it is an initial
attempt to develop a well validated instrument to measure Scientific Literacy, and
secondly to measure the level of Scientific Literacy among Malaysians using the
validated instrument. Besides, it also tries to examine if age, sex, race and specialisation
of the person (science and non-science) have influence on his/her Scientific Literacy.
The validated instrument consists of three subscales namely Knowledge of Science
Subscale, Nature of Science Subscale and Controversial Issues in Science Subscale. The
Knowledge of Science and The Nature of Science subscales contain items with short
statements related to science followed by three choices of answers namely 'True', 'False'
and 'Not Sure'. In Controversial Issue Subscale respondents are required to give two
advantages and two disadvantages for each issue.
The instrument is calibrated by using a sample of respondents in the "hierarchial
group" who are mostly science practitioners and students. They are science lecturers,
science teachers, science undergraduates, students of Lower Six Science class, students of
Form 4 science and Form 2. Four Scientific Literacy Levels are defined based on the mean
scores of Lower Six Science, Form 4 Science and Form 2 on the instrument. Those who
score 67 % (mean score for Lower Six Science) or more are termed as being literate at
High School Level, 56% (mean score of Form 4 Science) or more but less than 67% are
literate at Lower Secondary Level, 45%(mean score of Form 2.) or more but less than
56% are literate at Primary School Level and those who scored less than 45% are said to
be "illiterate" in science. In the main survey 147, Malaysians are selected to answer
items in the instrument of Scientific Literacy. The sample consists of Form 2,3,4,5 and 6
students taking into consideration their numbers in term of race, sex and area of
specialisation (science and non-science). The other members of the public are contacted
through friends and relatives and through their family friends and associates. The
repondents are clustered into four different age groups.
Results of the study indicate that 1 7. 7% of Malaysians from the sample are science
literate at High School Level, 30.6% literate at Lower Secondary School Level, 35.4% are
at Primary School Level and 16.3% are "illiterate" in science. There are no significant
differences between sexes, science and non-science as far as Scientific Literacy is
concerned in this studi However the (50-60) year-old group has significantly higher
mean in comparison with the (15-19) year-old age group and with that of (30-49) yearold
age group. Significant differences also detected in Scientific Literacy so defined in
this study between Chinese and Indians, and between Malays and Indians with Chinese
and Malays having higher means at 0.05 significant level. There is no significant
difference in Scientific Literacy between the Malays and the Chinese.
Generally, the Malaysians in this study have low level of Scientific Literacy score in
all the three dimensions of subscales. Each of the three Sub scales has score less than 60%.
The Scientifc Knowledge Scale, The Nature of Science Scale and The Controversial Issue
Scale mean scores are 57.1 %, 48.4% and 56.5% respectively. The overall mean score for
147 Malaysians on the instrument is 55.9% which is at the lower limit of Lower
Secondary Level of Scientific Literacy so defined. In Science Controversial Issues the
respondents are more competent in giving account on the disadvantages of the issues
rather than giving the positive aspects of the issues. 'Abortion' seems to be most
controversial of the five issues among the respondents. Implication of this study was
discussed in the thesis.
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Keywords
Tahap literasi sains , Orang awam