Examining Indonesian pre-service chemistry teachers’ views of nature of science and technology (VNOST)

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to examine the views of the nature of science and technology (VNOST) of the pre-service chemistry teacher. The participants comprised 23 6th semester students at one of the state universities in Semarang, Indonesia. This study utilized a questionnaire and qualitative approach to gathering data. The NOST questionnaire consists of eight multiple-choice items, comprising of four aspects: definitions of science and technology, the epistemology, the internal sociology of science, and the external sociology of science. It was found that 78% of students had incomplete but legitimate views on the definition of science. They only viewed science as a study of principles, laws, and theories in biology, physics, and chemistry or body of knowledge without considering the scientific process behind it. Meanwhile, the remaining 22% consider science includes an investigative process and the process of resulting knowledge. Generally, the majority of the pre-service chemistry teachers still have lack comprehension of defining science and technology both epistemologically and sociologically. Thus, the results showed that pre-service chemistry teachers still need to improve their views of the nature of science and technology.