Level of Scientific Literacy of University Freshmen and its Relationship with Some Variables

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of scientific literacy of first year university students in Al al-Bayt University at the first semester of the academic year (2008-2009), and to test the effects of some variables on this level, a test of scientific literacy was used, consisting of (60) multiple choice items, classified into three subtests: a subtest of scientific knowledge (30) items, a subtest of nature of science (15) items, and a subtest of understanding the interaction between science, technology, and science (15) items. The sample of this study consisted of (284) first year university students in Al al-Bayt University. The study revealed that the level of science literacy of the university freshman was low. Also there were statistically significant differences in the level of scientific literacy and in the mean score on two subtests of scientific knowledge and nature of science due to specialization in favor of scientific faculties. But there were no statistically significant differences in the mean score on the subtest understanding the interaction between science, technology and society due to specialization. Results also revealed statistically significant differences in the level of scientific literacy, and in mean score on the subtest scientific knowledge due to the gender of students in the favor of males. But there were no statistically significant differences in the mean score on two subtests of nature of science and understanding the interaction between science, technology and society due to the gender of students. Results, however, didn’t reveal statistically significant differences in the level of scientific literacy and in the mean score on the three subtests, due to interaction between specialization and the gender of students.