Scientific Literacy in Science Lesson

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Scientific Literacy in Science Lesson PROSIDING ICTTE FKIP UNS 2015 ISSN: 2502-4124 Vol 1, Nomor 1, Januari 2016 Halaman: SCIENTIFIC LITERACY IN SCIENCE LESSON Budi Utamia, Sulistyo Saputrob, Ashadib, Mohammad Masykurib a,b Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia Corresponding e-mail: [email protected] Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine: 1) definition of scientific literacy, 2) aspects of scientific literacy. 3) kinds of scientific literacy, 4) the role of curriculum in 2013 to develop scientific literacy. The method of this paper is research note paper, with a literature review of research journals about scientific literacy in science learning. The Curriculum 2013 has emphasized scientific literacy on the learning process by suggesting the utilize of the scientific approach. The scientific approach provides an opportunity for students to perform contextual learning, therefore the learning experiences that students got becomes more meaningful. The scientific approach provides an opportunity for students to connect between the previous concept, the concept being studied and its relationship with other materials that are expected able to improve the scientific literacy of students. The scientific approach to learning science developed from the scientific method commonly known as the science process skills. Keywords: scientific literacy, curriculum, scientific approach, learning science 1 INTRODUCTON Understanding the nature of science, including 'Literacy science' term has been used in the its relationship to culture; i) Appreciation of literature for more than four decades and comfort with the science, including the (Gallagher & Harsch, 1997), though not wonder and curiosity; j) Knowledge of the always with the same meaning (Bybee, 1997 risks and benefits of science; and k) The in Holbrook and Rannikmae, 2009). ability to think critically about science and Many definitions have been proposed for dealing with scientific expertise. scientific literacy since Paul DeHart Hurd In this paper are advised to retain the use used the term in 1958 (American Association of scientific literacy is still appropriate, but for the Advancement of Science [AAAS], necessary for scientific literacy relates to the 1989; Bybee, 1997; Gräber et al., 2001; appreciation of the nature of science, the Holbrook & Rannikmae, 1997; Hurd, 1958; personal attributes of learning, including Laugksch, 2000; National Science Education attitudes and also for the development of social Standards (National Standard Science values (Holbrook & Rannikmae, 2009). For Education), 1996). There is confusion as to its this, the relevance of learning plays a role and exact meaning; Norris and Philips (2003) (in teaching materials, strive toward increasing Holbrook and Rannikmae 2009) argues that student scientific literacy, need to consider the scientific literacy terms have been used to social frame, the introduction of science incorporate various components of the conceptually on a need to know basis, and to following: a) Knowledge of the substantive embrace the situation socioscientific that content knowledge and the ability to provide relevance for responsible citizenship distinguish from non-science; b) Understand (Holbrook, 2008 ). the science and its applications; c) Knowledge It is very difficult to provide clarity of of what counts as science; d) Freedom in meaning both scientific literacy, and learning science; e) The ability of scientific science and technology literacy (the term used thinking; f) The ability to use scientific in the recognition of the relationship between knowledge in solving problems; g) The science and technology in everyday life). This knowledge required for intelligent is especially true when translating terms into participation in science-based issues; h) languages other than English. A forum on | 125 PROSIDING ICTTE FKIP UNS 2015 ISSN: 2502-4124 Vol 1, Nomor 1, Januari 2016 Halaman: literacy in science and technology for all inquiry into any subject-matter“ (Wening, (UNESCO, 1993) suggest the term of France www.phy.ilstu.edu/ as "la culture scientifique et technologique," a wening/thsp/chapters/scientificliteracy). translation that clearly reflects the intention of A society scientific literacy is one of the cultures and points the way to recognize that main goals of science education (Norris & someone is literate science and technology is Phillips, 2003). Various efforts to reform the one that can function in society as a whole, science education has been widely applied in not just as scientists in the workplace various countries, but the recent emphasis on (Holbrook and Rannikmae, 2009). scientific inquiry and the nature of science Millar (1997) in Holbrook and Rannikmae (NOS) is a reform that distinguishes between (2009) showed that the civilian scientific current efforts by previous efforts. For literacy is considered as the level of example, in developed countries like the united understanding of science and technology reforms undertaken emphasizes on the needed citizens is important, which can be the development of an accurate understanding of data showed that the number of elementary science and science literacy. In the American school science as a predictor of the strongest standard document "Benchmarks for Scientific scientific literacy in adults. Whatever Literacy" (AAAS, 1993), "the National definition is actually there, it seems, is general Science Education Standards" (NSTA, 2000), agreement that the term 'scientific literacy' is and "The Next Generation Science Standards" used rather metaphorically. Thus beyond any (NGSS Lead States, 2013) in addition to notion of reading and writing, and some will mentioning the understanding of concepts claim that it refers only to the ability to read fundamental concepts of science are also scientific journals. The use of metaphors tend photographing nature of science (NOS) and to transform into a slogan scientific literacy, scientific inquiry (scientific inquiry) as a key which means all things to all people, but it component in scientific literacy. Although a serves to demonstrate the purpose of science sense of concern for the public science literacy education. Thus, the purpose of science is different from one nation to other nations, education can be expressed as the scientific, but the level of scientific literacy which is technological, literacy (icase, 2003; Norris & owned by the people was the main reason for Phillips, 2003 in Holbrook and Rannikmae, changing or reforming science education. 2009). Indonesia is among the countries that have Enhancing the scientific literacy (also concerns about scientific literacy nation. commonly referred to as science literacy) of Implementation of Curriculum 2013 is one of students has been a goal of science educators the efforts to reform the education and science for more than a century. John Dewey‘s turn- education in particular. Curriculum 2013 of-the-20th-century calls for the use of provides reinforcement or revitalization in experiential learning and inquiry practice were some aspects of the previous curriculum. directed toward enhancing the general Therefore, the curriculum in 2013 gives hope scientific literacy of students. He argued that for the realization of scientific literacy teaching theory should be more closely community. However, on the other hand associated with desired outcomes (1904), and Curriculum 2013 also has challenges to be that the best way to get students to become faced in implementing them in the field more scientifically aware and informed is (Rahayu, 2014). Formulation of the problem in through the processes of experiential learning this paper are: 1) Does the definition of having students learn science by mimicking scientific literacy?, 2) What aspects of the work of scientists. Six years later, Dewey scientific literacy? 3) What kinds of scientific (1910) noted, —Science teaching has suffered literacy!, 4) How Curriculum 2013 in because science has been so frequently developing scientific literacy? The aim in this presented just as so much ready-made paper are: 1) To determine the definition of knowledge, so much subject-matter of fact and scientific literacy, 2) To know the aspects of law, rather than as the effective method of scientific literacy, 3) To know the kinds of | 126 PROSIDING ICTTE FKIP UNS 2015 ISSN: 2502-4124 Vol 1, Nomor 1, Januari 2016 Halaman: scientific literacy, 4) To determine the role of decisions has received strong support in the curriculum in 2013 in developing science Swedish national school curricula of science. literacy Pelger and Nilsson (2015) also quote from Roberts (2007) drew attention to two differing 2 DISCUSSION positions for scientific literacy vision I and 2.1 Definition of Scientific literacy vision II, where vision I was described as Scientific literacy is an individual being scientist-centered with a strong focus on scientific knowledge and the use of science content knowledge. Vision II, he knowledge to identify questions, to acquire described as being more student-centered and new knowledge, to explain scientific context driven, moving beyond seeing science phenomena, and to draw evidence-based as only facts and knowledge, and instead conclusions about science-related issues, connecting it to situations that students are an understanding of the characteristic likely to encounter as citizens. In terms of features of science as a form of human popular science and science communication, knowledge and inquiry, awareness of how scientific
Recommended publications
  • Teaching Scientific Literacy Through a Science Technology and Society Course: Prospective Elementary Science Teachers’ Case
    The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology – TOJET October 2004 ISSN: 1303-6521 volume 3 Issue 4 Article 8 TEACHING SCIENTIFIC LITERACY THROUGH A SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY COURSE: PROSPECTIVE ELEMENTARY SCIENCE TEACHERS’ CASE Dr. Esra MACAROGLU AKGUL Ataturk Faculty Of Education Marmara University, Goztepe Campus Istanbul-Turkey e-address: [email protected] phone: 05365268728 (mobile) mail address: Mandıra Cad. Onay Sitesi 3. blok D:3 Merdivenkoy 34732 Istanbul-Turkey ABSTRACT The study examines Turkish pre-service elementary science teachers’ scientific literacy levels. The research took place in Marmara University, in 2001-2002 academic year. The research participants were twenty randomly chosen students among all senior classes of the university mentioned above. The research data were gathered with the documents, i.e. class assignments and activities, collected in science-technology and society course performance portfolios. Interviews with students and field notes from the class were used for data triangulation. Participants’ definitions of scientific literacy were determined with document analysis and open coding of data. Then, assertions to explain findings were formed. The assertions displayed that participants define scientific literacy in relation with thinking and inquiry. However; they are having problems to define the term scientific. Documents displayed that although participants had some traditional understandings about science, they hold more contemporary views about scientific literacy. INTRODUCTION Almost all developing and developed countries have the purpose of increasing scientific literacy level of public among their educational goals. This purpose also takes place in Turkish educational agenda. The first step to reach that purpose is to define scientific literacy. There is no consensus on the definition of scientific literacy concept in literature.
    [Show full text]
  • Promoting Scientific Literacy: Science Education Research in Transaction
    Promoting Scientific Literacy: Science Education Research in Transaction Proceedings of the Linnaeus Tercentenary Symposium held at Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden, May 28-29, 2007 Cedric Linder, Leif Östman and Per-Olof Wickman (Eds.) Geotryckeriet, Uppsala 2007 ISBN 978-91-633-1892-4 PREFACE This proceedings volume is a documentation of a symposium that was part of the Linnaeus Tercentenary 2007 Celebrations held at Uppsala University. Gaalen Erickson and Douglas Roberts received Honorary Doctorates in the area of Science Education and to celebrate this, a special symposium entitled Promoting Scientific Literacy: Science Education Research in Transaction was held. A large group of invited speakers presented a diversity of perspectives as they explored a future vision for science education research and practice by articulating a more expansive notion of scientific literacy than has previously been the case. These explorations involved discussions of both theoretical and practical issues in relation to questions regarding the teaching and learning of this 'revised' notion of scientific literacy at both the individual and the societal levels. We would like to thank the people and financial sponsors without whom this symposium would not have been possible: Symposium Committee: Ulf Lundgren (Uppsala University), Doris Jorde (University of Oslo), Ulf Lindahl (Uppsala University), and Kristina Edström (Uppsala University). Financial assistance: Educational Sciences (UVK) section of the Swedish Research Council Faculty of Educational Sciences,
    [Show full text]
  • The Crisis of the “Public Understanding of Science” in Great Britain
    JCOM 2 (1), March 2003 The crisis of the “Public Understanding of Science” in Great Britain Nico Pitrelli Master’s Degree Course in Scientific Communication – ISAS – Trieste – Italy Introduction In a brief article published by Science1 last October, British scientists stated that the expression “Public Understanding of Science”(PUS), which was traditionally employed in Anglosaxon societies to refer to the issue of the relationship between science, technology and society, is out-of-date. It should be replaced by “Public Engagement with Science and Technology” (PEST), a new acronym that clearly invites to reconceptualise the relationship between science and the public. The new approach involves the engagement of the public – or rather the publics – of science, through dialogue, in particular through an open and equal-to-equal discussion between scientists and non-experts that would enable non-experts to become the actual protagonists in the scientific decisions producing social effects. It is not just a matter of terminology. The shift from merely promoting the understanding of science – as indicated by PUS – to emphasising the need for public engagement is seen as necessary to obtain public confidence in science. Indeed, there is a general perception that public opinion is increasingly losing confidence in science. However, the initiative of the British researchers does not stand alone. In the last few years politicians, scientists, scholars and media operators in the UK have been insisting 1 “From PUS to PEST”, Science, vol. 298, 4th October 2002, p.49 1 on revising the role of the public in PUS communication theories and practice2,3,4,5,6,7.
    [Show full text]
  • (Science) Education a NARST Symposium Strand 08
    Relations between Science Education and Environmental (Science) Education A NARST Symposium Strand 08 (History, Philosophy, Epistemology) March 27, 2001, 8:30-10:00 AM Yvonne Meichtry (Organizer), School of Education, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, [email protected] Michaela Zint (Co-organizer), School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, [email protected] Panelists: (In order of appearance) William Carlsen, College of Education, The Pennsylvania State University, Universit Park, PA16802, [email protected] Paul Hart, University of Regina, Regina, Canada SK S4S 0A2, [email protected] Ali Sammel, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario NSG 1G7, [email protected] David Zandvliet, Simon Frasier University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, [email protected] Justin Dillon, School of Education, King’s College London, London SE1 8WA, [email protected] Introduction Yvonne Meichtry, Northern Kentucky University This symposium is an outcome of a NARST 2000 meeting held for interested participants to discuss their interests in environmental education, relevant support networks, and potential roles for NARST. Participants of NARST who attended the meeting concluded that it was necessary to pursue the 2 establishment of an environmental science education special interest group within NARST. An Ad Hoc Committee on Environmental Science Education (ESE) has subsequently been established. Other efforts made to promote and support the work of environmental (science) educators include the organization of conference sessions which focus on ESE, the development of ties to other groups within NARST with relevant interests, and the creation of a listserv to share information and dialogue. The challenges faced by science educators and environmental educators in respect to the distinctions and interrelationships between the two fields have been many.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing Scientific Literacy Levels Among Secondary School Science Students of District Lahore
    Bulletin of Education and Research December 2020, Vol. 42, No. 3 pp. 1-21 Assessing Scientific Literacy Levels among Secondary School Science Students of District Lahore Iram Shahzadi* and Abida Nasreen** __________________________________________________________________ Abstract The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the scientific literacy levels among the government secondary school science students of district Lahore. Proportionate stratified random sampling and purposive sampling were used for selection of 16 government secondary schools comprised of seven boys’ and nine girls’ schools of district Lahore. The selected schools were taken by five percent of proportion of total population. By using Bybee Scale, the test was designed contained two to ten contextual situations and questions of four scientific literacy levels. Analysis of the study was based on percentage, mean, t-test, and ANOVA. The results revealed that secondary school science students attained the nominal and functional level of scientific literacy which was at the lowest levels. Findings also showed that girls performed better than boys in all levels of scientific literacy. There was no difference in the scores of students related to their mothers’ education and mothers’ skill level. There was a difference in the scores of students related to their fathers’ education, fathers’ skill level and students’ dedicated time for learning of science (hours per day, at school as well as at home). The curriculum developers should plan a course of scientific literacy or merge scientific literacy concepts and activities in science textbooks for secondary schools to increase scientific literacy. The time period for science subjects should be increased in government schools.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment of Scientific Literacy Skills and Attitudes of Undergraduate
    Paper ID #21494 Assessment of Scientific Literacy Skills and Attitudes of Undergraduate Con- struction Management Students Dr. Andrea Nana Ofori-Boadu, North Carolina A&T State University Andrea Ofori-Boadu, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Construction Management Department of Built Envi- ronment, School of Technology North Carolina A & T State University Address: 112-A Price Hall Phone: 336-285-3128 Email: [email protected] Dr. Andrea Ofori-Boadu is an Assistant Professor of Construction Management (CM) with the Depart- ment of Built Environment. She has a Ph.D. in Technology Management (Specialization in Construction Management), an M.Sc. in Industrial Technology (Specialization in Construction Management), and a B.Sc. in Building Technology. Dr. Ofori-Boadu has over 20 years of relevant academic and industry experience. Her major areas of research are in quality management, sustainable cement replacement materials, and STEM education. c American Society for Engineering Education, 2018 Assessment of Scientific Literacy Skills and Attitudes of Undergraduate Construction Students Abstract Scientific literacy (SL) skills are critical for technically-trained construction professionals who are capable of transforming built environments through strategic decisions based on evidence- based reasoning. While most undergraduate construction curricula are designed to improve SL, no recent study was found to have assessed undergraduate construction students’ SL skills. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to assess the SL attitudes, skills, and self-efficacy of 46 undergraduate construction students. Data was obtained through students’ completion of the standard 28-item Test of Scientific Literacy Skills (TOSLS) instrument; a student self-reporting SL self-efficacy survey; and focus group discussions.
    [Show full text]
  • LD5655.V855 1993.C655.Pdf (11.60Mb)
    SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE, SOCIOLOGICALT HEORY, AND THE STRUCTURE OF RHETORIC by James H. Collier Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Science and Technology Studies APPROVED: Y— Joseph C. Pitt, Chair Aone ble EtaaT hone, Steve Fuller Elisworth Fuhrman April, 1993 Blacksburg, VA LD S635 VE5S , DaQa cose} aM’~ Scientific Discourse, Sociological Theory, and the Structure of Rhetoric James H. Collier Graduate Program in Science and Technology Studies Chair: Joseph C. Pitt (ABSTRACT) This thesis examines the rhetorical, analytical and critical efficacy of reflexivity and sociological theory as means for reconciling the normative and descriptive functions of the rhetoric of science. In attempting to define a separate research domain within Science Studies, rhetoric of science has borrowed Strong Program and constructivist principles and descriptions of scientific practice from the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge (SSK) as a basis for analyzing scientific discourse. While epistemological claims in the social sciences have been considered inherently self-referential and subject to reflexive analysis and critique, rhetoricians have generally taken these claims on face value and applied them to a treatment of scientific practice. Accordingly, rhetoricians have maintained a natural ontological attitude to sociological theories and descriptions supporting an understanding of scientific discourse as implicitly rhetorical. Recently, however, the concept of "rhetoric" in rhetoric of science has come under scrutiny. This thesis will connect arguments involving the relation of the "irreducibly social" nature of science, to a concept of scientific discourse as rhetorical "without remainder,” to the philosophical commitments of reflexive analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • Inquiry and Scientific Literacy
    1 Inquiry and Scientific Literacy WHat IS ScieNce? 1 How do you define science? How do you think your students define science, or how would they describe a scientist? Not too long ago, we had a group of seventh-grade students draw scientists. Overwhelmingly, the pictures depicted men (some with Einstein-like hair) standing behind lab tables using flasks or test tubes. The average person might define science as a body of scientific knowledge. Philosophers may regard science as a means to obtain the truth through questioning, while scientists probably see science as a means of exploring a hypothesis by following a set of procedures. In a classroom, the teacher may encourage students to think of science as problem solving, obser- vation and description of the real world, discovery, seeking the truth, studying nature, turning facts into theories, organizing knowledge, using logic, or study- ing the universe. While all of these statements have a connection with science, each is only a part of science—only when they are put together do they begin to represent science. Science is learning about the world. All dimensions of science rather than an emphasis on only science content, support this learning. Knowledge is obtained through observations and investigations that can be substantiated by others. According to the National Research Council (NRC; 1999), explanations that cannot be based on empirical evidence are not part of science. Science is one subject that encourages concrete action (Wright & Wright, 1998). There are three aspects of science knowledge for which scientists are responsible—understand, explain, and apply. Careful observations, designed experimentation, and logical reasoning can accomplish these aspects.
    [Show full text]
  • Attitudes Toward Science and Scientific Literacy Among Romanian Young Adults
    ERD 2016: Education, Reflection, Development, Fourth Edition Attitudes toward Science and Scientific Literacy Among Romanian Young Adults Barz Daniela-Luminițaa* * Corresponding author: Barz Daniela-Luminița, [email protected] aPhD Candidate,”Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, 8 Babeş Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Abstract http://dx.doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2016.12.7 The paper explores attitudes toward science and scientific literacy among Romanian young adults, through an online survey following key dimensions - attitudes toward science, integration of science in everyday life, beliefs in pseudoscientific phenomena and knowledge of the scientific method. Moreover, the study focuses especially on healthcare students and professionals’ scientific literacy, exploring the level of scientific reasoning within the medical field. Analysis includes multiple comparisons across different fields of study, professional areas and age groups. The novelty of the study consists in shifting the assessment of scientific literacy from general scientific knowledge toward the understanding of the scientific method. Results of the present study confirmed a deficit in scientific knowledge, but more importantly, demonstrated that the relationship between scientific literacy and attitudes toward science was a non-linear one. In fact, the study found a gap between what people accept to be scientific fact and what they choose to integrate into everyday life. Given these results, we argue that science education’s focus should be on developing scientific reasoning rather than providing scientific knowledge. © 2016 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy.org.uk Keywords: Attitudes toward science; scientific literacy; higher education; medical education. 1. Introduction Scientific literacy refers to an understanding of science and technology, of the scientific process and scientific facts.
    [Show full text]
  • Moral and Ethical Dimensions of Socioscientific Decision-Making As
    Troy D. Sadler Moral and Ethical Dimensions of Socioscientific Decision-Making as Integral Components of Scientific Literacy An argument is made that socioscientific decision-making occupies a seminal place in scientific literacy and attention to morality and ethics must be included in the science curriculum. Science educators have appropri- of socioscientific issues. This paper reform did not coin the phrase; in fact, it ated many meanings for the phrase reviews how the Science-Technol- has appeared in the literature for almost “scientific literacy” (Champagne & ogy-Society movement has addressed fifty years. Paul Hurd is credited with Lovitts, 1989). This paper advances socioscientific decision-making and first publishing the phrase in 1958, an argument that in order to main- outlines an alternative approach that but the notion that underlies scientific tain the usefulness of such a mal- more explicitly focuses on the moral literacy for all citizens can be traced leable phrase, its users must explicitly and ethical implications of socio- back to at least the beginning of the address the context of its use. Based scientific issues. century (Laugksch, 2000). Despite on the vision of science education (or maybe because of) the fact that articulated in standards documents Scientific Literacy Ambiguity scientific literacy has been a part of from the United States (American In the current era of standards and the landscape of science education Association for the Advancement of reform, the phrase “scientific literacy” for a considerable length of time, its Science, 1990); (National Research has garnered a great deal of attention meaning remains mired in debate. Council, 1996) and abroad (Council from the science education community.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix B: Test of Scientific Literacy Skills
    Appendix B: Test of Scientific Literacy Skills Directions: There are 28 multiple-choice questions. You will have about 35 minutes to work on the questions. Be sure to answer as many of the questions as you can in the time allotted. You will receive attendance points for completing the entire assignment today. Your grade will depend on completeness and thoroughness, not on correct answers. But, try your best, your honest answers will help us better prepare the materials for the remainder of the semester. Mark your answers on the scantron sheet. Bubble in your #ID on your scantron. Do NOT use a calculator. Thank you for your participation in this project! 1. Which of the following is a valid scientific argument? a. Measurements of sea level on the Gulf Coast taken this year are lower than normal; the average monthly measurements were almost 0.1 cm lower than normal in some areas. These facts prove that sea level rise is not a problem. b. A strain of mice was genetically engineered to lack a certain gene, and the mice were unable to reproduce. Introduction of the gene back into the mutant mice restored their ability to reproduce. These facts indicate that the gene is essential for mouse reproduction. c. A poll revealed that 34% of Americans believe that dinosaurs and early humans co-existed because fossil footprints of each species were found in the same location. This widespread belief is appropriate evidence to support the claim that humans did not evolve from ape ancestors. d. This winter, the northeastern US received record amounts of snowfall, and the average monthly temperatures were more than 2°F lower than normal in some areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Dumbing It Down: Mass Media and Science Literacy in the Usa
    DUMBING IT DOWN: MASS MEDIA AND SCIENCE LITERACY IN THE USA. by Casey Forest Kanode A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Science and Natural History Filmmaking MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Bozeman, Montana November 2015 ©COPYRIGHT by Casey Forest Kanode 2015 All Rights Reserved ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my amazing parents and my loving sister, for whom I would certainly not be where I am today. Their support has been vital in the pursuit of my passions. I also would like to dedicate this paper to my dog Jackson, for he never judges me and helps me to be a better person everyday. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................1 2. THE IMPORTANCE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERACY......................................................3 A Brief History.................................................................................................................3 Benefits to Individuals..................................................................................................... 4 Individual Risks of Low Scientific Literacy....................................................................6 Benefits to Society........................................................................................................... 7 Societal Risks of Low Scientific Literacy....................................................................... 9 3. NEGATIVE IMPACT OF MASS MEDIA ON PUBLIC
    [Show full text]