Conceptual ecology of the evolution acceptance among Greek education students: knowledge, religiosity and social influences

Citation:

Athanasiou, K. ; Papadopoulou, P. In ESERA; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267451352: Istabul, 2009. Copy at http://www.tinyurl.com/2lh9qaxf

Date Presented:

2009

Abstract:

In this study, we aimed to explore the factors related to acceptance of evolutionary theory among students/preservice preschool education teachers using conceptual ecology for biological evolution as a theoretical frame. We aimed to look into the acceptance and the understanding of evolutionary theory, and also to look into the relationship of the acceptance with understanding of evolutionary theory, parents’ educational level and frequency of church attendance as independent variables. Students’ restricted understanding of evolutionary theory is positively correlated with moderate acceptance of evolutionary theory but we did not find any significant positive correlation between parents’ educational level, religiosity and acceptance of evolution. Our findings indicate that studying a controversial issue such as the acceptance of evolutionary theory in a multivariate fashion, using conceptual ecology as a theoretical lens to interpret the findings, is informative. They also, indicate the differences that exist from society to society and how sociological factors as part of the conceptual ecology influence acceptance of evolution and have strong influence on Evolution education. And how useful is the enrichment of the Conceptual Ecology with other factors, i.e. thinking dispositions or making students familiar with the scientific method.

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