Abstract

NGWENYA, N. H.  and  IMENDA, S. N.. A study of year three and year four science education student teachers' nature of science beliefs and their science teaching and learning beliefs. S. Afr. J. High. Educ. [online]. 2025, vol.39, n.5, pp.254-277. ISSN 1753-5913.  https://doi.org/10.20853/39-5-6691.

The purpose of this study was to determine the nature of science (NOS) beliefs, science teaching and learning beliefs held by year-three and year-four science education student teachers, and how those beliefs related to each other. The study was underpinned by the epistemological development theory. Researchers conducted a quantitative study involving one hundred and eighty-four year-three and year-four students enrolled in a four-year Bachelor of Education degree. The study revealed that: (i) year-four student teachers held significantly more sophisticated NOS beliefs than year-three students; (ii) year-four science teaching and learning beliefs were significantly "reformed oriented" than year-three students, and (iii) no statistically significant correlation existed between the year-three respondents' NOS beliefs as against their science teaching and learning beliefs. However, there was a statistically significant linear association between the students' NOS beliefs and their science teaching and learning beliefs at year-four level.

Keywords : Epistemology; nature of science (NOS); student teachers; science education.

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