Title Opinion of tenth grade pupils from Latvia and Lithuania about cognitive interests in natural science: results of pilot research /
Translation of Title Latvijos ir Lietuvos dešimtokų nuomonė apie kognityvinį domėjimąsi gamtos mokslais: pilotinio tyrimo rezultatai.
Authors Bilbokaitė, Renata ; Možeika, Daina
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Is Part of Jaunųjų mokslininkų darbai. 2009, nr.2(23), p. 98- 104.. ISSN 1648-8776
Keywords [eng] Cognitive interests in nature ; Natural science ; Comparative analysis
Abstract [eng] Before Latvia and Lithuania achieved independence the pedagogical situation in both countries was more or less similar. After 1991 the development progressed differently in the education systems. This research is mainly aimed to compare in visual, emotional and sensory way the differences in interesting topics of natural sciences (including chemistry and chemical processes) between Latvian and Lithuanian pupils. The participants were tenth graders from Lithuania and Latvia. The aim was to get preliminary results that could be used as the pilot research for later researches. The questionnaire was translated from Latvian language into Lithuanian language and was distributed to random sample of pupils. There participated 107 pupils from Lithuania and 85 tenth grade pupils from Latvia. The questionnaires that had been filled in incorrectly were omitted. The rate of return of questionnaires was 94%. Mostly all pupils were 16 years old and all of them were in the tenth grade. There were found only seven statistically meaningful differences between Lithuanians’ and Latvians’ answers to the questionnaire questions. An assumption was made that pupils live in the same geographical conditions and experience the like influence from the environment. Some differences can be explained by better technological situation in Latvian schools that conditioned the lower interest in natural science. Lithuanian pupils are more interested in holes ozone layer, in climate warming reasons and in summer lightning than pupils from Latvia are. Furthermore, Lithuanians like to observe coming into flowers in spring time more than Latvians. Tenth graders from Latvia are more interested in natural phenomena and like to observe various objects with magnifying glass more than pupils from Lithuania do. There is no dominant position of cognitive interest in natural science education for all pupils. Equal status is taken by visual, emotional and sensory psychological aspects.
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2009