Abstract:

The aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable scale of attitude in order to identify the attitudes of university students towards astronomy, and with the help of this scale to determine the attitudes of scientists candidates towards astronomy. A Astronomical Attitude Scale (ATÖ), previously prepared for high school students in literature, is adapted to higher education with this study. Some of the materials that are in the ready-made scale and not suitable for higher education have been removed, and some have been reorganized. The project, which consists of 5 likert type and 20 articles, was implemented to 286 teachers candidates in the 2014-2015 training-learning period, with the Opening Factor Analysis (AFA) conducted. This analysis found that the remaining 18 substances in the scale were aggregated in 4 factors and the internal coherence ratio of Cronbach-Alfa was 0.898. At the 2015-2016 educational year, 223 teachers were nominated to conduct the verifying factor analysis (DFA) of the ATÖ. After DFA, the model data compatibility for both factors and the scale as a whole has been determined to be high. The scale created as a result of the AFA and DFA processes 315 Sciences teachers candidates have shown attitudes towards astronomy by applying. The result is that as the class level students study increases, their attitudes towards astronomy are also increasing. Especially four. The attitude points of the class teacher candidates have significantly differentiated from the attitude points of the teacher candidates in other class levels. Based on the results of the study, it was recommended to conduct studies that reveal the attitudes and even changes of individuals in the field of astronomy education, along with their reasons.

Keywords: