期刊名称：Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education
印刷版ISSN：1305-8223
电子版ISSN：1305-8223
出版年度：2020
卷号：16
期号：2
页码：1-16
DOI：10.29333/ejmste/115016
出版社：Pamukkale Univ Dept Sci Education
摘要：In biotechnology education research (BTER), the multifaceted construct of attitude has
seldom been problematised in depth despite that the majority of studies in BTER
during the last two decades have focused on students’ attitudes towards modern
biotechnology. Most studies on attitudes in science education use a single-factor
model in characterising students’ attitudes, while some use a three-factor model. By
means of structural equation modeling the current study tested and evaluated single,
three-factor, and bifactor models of student attitudes towards modern biotechnology.
To further shed light on the stability of this model measurement invariance testing was
carried out for groups; school-type, gender, grade, parental education and educational
programme. The results showed that a three-factor model and a bifactor model
showed satisfying fit to the student attitude data. The bifactor model were relatively
invariant for all groups except for gender, where boys had a more positive attitude. The
affective and behavioural aspects of attitudes were highly correlated why the bifactor
model with its general factor and specific cognitive factor may provide a more sound
explanation of students’ attitudes towards biotechnology. The results indicate the
importance of including affective and behavioural dimensions of attitude in
biotechnology teaching. Further implications for practice are discussed.
