Abstract:

In this study, the effectiveness of the inquiry-based learning approach as to teacher centered descriptive methods was investigated in developing the attitudes towards science of elementary students. The research group consisted of 104 seventh grade students of Beytepe and Mehmet İçkale Primary Schools located in the city of Ankara, district of Çankaya during the spring period within 2004-2005. In the study, “Attitude Scale towards Science” which was developed by Geban et al (1994) has been used in order to measure the attitudes of students towards science. In the study, pretest-posttest with control group experimental design was used. As a result of the study, attitudes of the students towards science are significantly extent higher in inquiry-based science course. These results were supported with the data which were obtained through the interviews with students.

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