The Influence of Mother's Characteristics on Elementary School Students' Attitudes toward Science

어머니의 특성이 초등학생의 과학에 대한 태도에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study was to analyse the influence of mother's characteristics on elementary school students' attitudes toward science. Elementary school students (N=667) and their mothers (N=681) were selected from three other regions, big city, small city, and country. Attitudes toward science and supports for scientific activities were measured by two kinds of instruments. The instrument for the measurement of attitudes toward science includes three scales: cognition about value of science, affection toward science & science learning, and cognitive participation in scientific activities. And the instrument to measure parents' support for scientific activities includes two scales: indirect support and direct support. This research showed that mothers' various characteristics resulted in a difference in students' attitudes toward science. And there were positive correlations between students' attitudes toward science and their mothers' attitudes toward science and support for scientific activities. Also mothers' attitudes toward science and support for scientific activities affected students' attitudes. Especially, mothers' personal interest in science and her mental and physical supports for children's scientific activities had a close relation with students' attitudes toward science.