The Degree of Inclusion of the Domains of the Nature of Science in Science Textbooks of Intermediate School Level1

Abstract

This study seeks to identify the inclusion of the nature of science topics in the science text books of intermediate school level (7th, 8th, and 9th) in Saudi Arabia. Researches adopted a content analysis form which was prepared by Alshamrani (2008), translated by Alasmari, Alshamrani and Alshaya (2013). The form consisted of 12 areas of the nature of science. While the analysis process included all science textbooks. The study found varying rates of inclusion. The percentage of including the areas of the nature of science was (11%) in science text book of 7th grade, and (7.7%) in 8th grade, while reached (12.1%) in 9th grade. The findings of the study indicated that all textbooks have included all areas of the nature of science, except the area "Scientific Knowledge is Subjective". The least included areas were "Scientists Use Creativity," and "Science is Culturally and Socially Embedded", while the least included area in 8th grade was "The absence of a Universal step wise Scientific Method", and the least included area 9th grade was "Science is Culturally and Socially Embedded ". While the most included areas of the nature of science in 7th grade was "Scientific Knowledge is Empirically Based", and the most included areas in 8th grade was "There is a Distinction Between Observations and Inferences", and the area "There is a Distinction Between Scientific Laws and Theories" was the most included area in the 9th grade