A comparative study on the attitudes of high school boys and girls students of Tehran district 14 toward programs, facilities and method of teaching and doing of the Chemistry and Laboratory subject

This study is to investigate attitudes of high school students, who are studying ineducational district 14 in Tehran capital city, including both girls and boys, towards programs,facilities and method of teaching and doing Chemistry and Laboratory subject. To do so, usingproportional stratified random sampling technique, from a population of all high school studentsof district 14, a sample of 400 students (N=200 girls and 200 boys) was selected. Appropriatenessof sample size was determined by Morgan Table. Data were collected by means of a researchermadequestionnaire comprising 33 items, regarding two variables of outlook towards ChemistryBooks and outlook towards Chemistry teachers’ professional capabilities. Internal consistency ofthe questionnaire, measured by reliability index of Cronbach’s alpha, came out to be 0.887. Datawere analyzed through descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (independent sample T-test)as well. Findings revealed that students’ attitude towards the variable Chemistry and LaboratoryBooks was not encouraging; while positive attitude towards the other variable scientificprofessionalcapability of teachers was found. Also, in each of the aforementioned variables,there were differences between boys and girls; taking as a whole, girls evaluated the variablesmore encouraging than boys.

Keywords:

Laboratory equipment and facilities , teaching at high school , chemistry education , attitudes