CULTURE’S EFFECT ON STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS SCIENCE

Abstract

Cultural influence plays an important role in the association of attitudes towards science, this varies between countries because cultural context, including linguistic, social, political, economic, philosophical and religious aspects, determine and shape attitudes towards science. Cultural influence is the way we view the world. Learning, therefore, cannot be separated from its socio-cultural context (Vygotsky, 1987). Students carry their attitudes towards science into the classroom based upon their socio-cultural background influence. For example, Asian students choose a science predominantly even though science-based careers are less economically profitable because of their families’ important impact on their choice and science-related choices have a very great prestige within the Asian cultures. Whereas students within the western cultures are individualist and make attractive choices reflecting their personal enjoyment and skills to a more considerable effect. Moreover, in Turkish culture, science-related careers also have a great prestige and have been perceived as very important for the country’s development and therefore students’ attitudes towards science is very positive even though their performance on the PISA is lower than average. As a result of different cultures holding different attitudes towards science and science-related careers, there is a great impact upon student uptake of science and science-related careers. Key words: career choice, Christianity, culture, family influence, Islam, religion, science attitudes, science.