Patterns of Worldview Presuppositions among a Group of the University of Bahrain Students Majoring in Science or Humanity Fields

Abstract

This study aimed at identifying the nature of worldview presuppositions held by a group of university students at the University of Bahrain majoring in science or humanity fields. Eight fictitious stories were used for this purpose; each followed by five expected explanations classified into four major categories, which were: magic and mysticism; metaphysics, parapsychology and pseudoscience; spiritism; and rationalism and science. Subjects were asked to read each story and tech- mark each explanation by either agreeing, disagreeing, or unsure. The sample of the study consists of 119 students enrolled in educational courses offered by the College of Education at the University of Bahrain as minor or major requirements. The instrument was administered to this sample in a class test session. The date analysis revealed a clear similarity of worldview held by university students at the University of Bahrain irrespective of their major. This worldview seems to be a mixture of magic and mysticism, metaphysics, spiritism, and rationalism. The prevalent worldview among them was spiritism which is highly connected to the Islamic perspective of life and events.