EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE TEACHERS’ EPISTEMOLOGY AND SELF-EFFICACY ON SCIENCE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES AND CONCEPTUALIZATION OF STUDENT RESEARCH EXPERIENCES ROOTED IN THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS
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Authors
Griffin, Nicole
Issue Date
2022-05-19
Item Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Academic Department
Advisor
item.page.dc.subject.keywords
Keyword
Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Education
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Abstract
Teachers’ values, beliefs, and self-confidence are critical components of decisions educators make every day. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between secondary science teachers’ epistemology and self-efficacy on science instructional practices and conceptualization of student research experiences rooted in the Next Generation Science Standards. A mixed methods explanatory sequential design was utilized by administering the Science Teachers’Beliefs About Science (STBAS), Self-Efficacy to Teach Science in an Integrated STEM Framework (SETIS), and the Science Instructional Practice Survey (SIPS) to secondary science teachers. A follow up semi-structured interview was administered to gather an understanding of the conceptualization of science instructional practices related to student research experiences.Quantitative findings that emerged were that the SETIS total significantly predicts SIPS critique.The combination of predictor variables did not contribute significantly to SIPS instigating, SIPS data, SIPS modeling, SIPS traditional, and SIPS prior. Qualitative findings that emerged were that teachers conceptualized science instruction as a learner centric classroom environment that engages students, while recognizing student apprehension in exploring the nature of science. Teachers’ prior educational and professional experiences expand their skill set and influence beliefs despite the challenges of limited funding, time, and mandated curriculum. Additional findings that emerged were a description of how teachers’ conceptualization of scientific knowledge represents a paradigm shift occurring in science education as teachers use creative, inclusive instructional strategies to ensure that all students achieve higher order thinking skills at a high level of rigor. Teachers promote student engagement in authentic science practices that resemble the practices of professional scientists and act as guides to knowledge acquisition, whereas a subset of teachers may lack full understanding of the difference between authentic student research and library-based research.Qualitative findings informed how secondary science teachers conceptualized student research experiences in the classroom. The study expanded upon the understanding of the interactions between secondary science teachers’ epistemology, self-efficacy on science instructional practices, and conceptualization of student research experiences rooted in the Next Generation Science Standards.
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Acknowledgements
I am eternally grateful for the support and guidance from so many people over the past five years. I would like to thank Dr. Catherine O’Callaghan, my dissertation chairperson, for her guidance, and insight. You have helped me sharpen my skills as a researcher and teacher. It has been an honor to work with you. Thank you for the many hours and energy you have spent helping me through this process. I would also like to acknowledge and thank my dissertation committee members, Dr. Harry Rosvally and Dr. Wes DeSantis, whose experience in educational research helped provide me with a strong foundation for my study. I am thankful for your feedback and advice. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Marcia Delcourt, my program coordinator. Your counsel and support on the complexities of my research study has been immensely helpful.I am grateful for the doctoral program and faculty members. All of you have helped me improve my craft and acted as role models of the kind of teacher I strive to be. This experience has helped me improve the high school science research program I coordinate and pass on the research skills to the next generation of scientists. Thank you to my science research students, who are the inspiration for my research. Thank you to all the members of cohort eight whose dedication to education, collaboration, and encouragement was a joy to be a part of through the dissertation process.