This study investigated
the variables affecting the science achievement of eighth-grade students by
multi-level regression analysis. The variables included in this research were
students’ attitudes, confidence level, value, engagement in science,
socioeconomic status, school type, school region, and teacher experience. The
study group consisted of 1049 students and 41 teachers. In the first research
question, differences in students’ science achievement scores among their
schools were investigated. According to the results, the students’ achievements
differed among their schools. Approximately 16.3% of the differences observed
in science achievement were stem from the differences among schools, and 83.6%
stem from the differences among students. In the second research question,
student characteristics that explain the differences among the science
achievements of the schools have been examined. Students’ socioeconomic level,
attitude, and confidence level were only variables that have statistically
significant relationship with achievement. Socioeconomic and confidence level
variables have a positive effect on achievement, but attitude variable has a
negative effect on achievement. In the third research question, student and
school characteristics that affect science achievement have been examined
simultaneously. The school characteristics that have been included in the
regression model were teacher experience, region, and school type. It was
determined that none of the regression coefficients for the school characteristics
variables were statistically significant in the regression model.
Primary Language | English |
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Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | December 13, 2019 |
Acceptance Date | November 4, 2019 |
Published in Issue | Year 2019 Volume: 10 Issue: 4 |