Research project Science Studies for Critical Examination of Nature of Science in the Media
Understanding and critically examining social issues in the media related to natural science is important for participating in a democratic society. In this project, we are therefore trying to find out what is required to develop the teaching of science, so that it strengthens students' abilities to do so.
Project description
An overall aim of science education in primary and secondary school is to prepare students to participate in a democratic society. One part of this involves supporting students in developing the ability to critically review natural science in the contexts we encounter in the media - and as citizens of society. It concerns, for example, issues of climate, health and sustainability, which are complex and difficult to navigate.
A challenge for many teachers is finding appropriate ways to make science knowledge relevant to students when teaching critical review. They need to find ways to help students value and compare knowledge in natural science against other knowledge, experiences and perspectives in complex social issues. This became particularly evident during the Corona pandemic, when research findings about the new and unknown virus were widely reported in various media. Different aspects of scientific knowledge production were then made visible in a way that also had a major impact on the general debate in society.
Another difficulty with teaching critical review, is that the tools that are available to use for source criticism are usually general and not adapted for natural science or natural scientific knowledge production.
Questioning and implementation
The project's main question is: How can science education be designed so that it supports students' participation in critical examination of how scientific knowledge production is presented in the media?
The project is carried out in collaboration between researchers at the Department of Teaching and Learning, Stockholm University and teachers in the City of Stockholm. In the project, a didactic model will be developed for the planning and implementation of teaching that develops the students' ability to critically review natural science in the media. The model will be developed on the basis of previous research and the participating teachers' experiences of teaching about critical examination in the subject of science.
The model will be tested and refined in three cycles of planning, implementation and analysis of teaching. In each cycle, pre- and post-tests will be conducted that measure the students' understanding of scientific knowledge production. As part of the development of the model, focus group interviews will also be conducted with science teachers at four other secondary schools.
Project members
Project managers
Maria Andrée
Professor
Members
Carl-Johan Rundgren
Professor
Cecilia Dudas
Fil.lic. i naturvetenskapsämnenas didaktik
Josefin Reimark
Fil.lic. i naturgeografi och lektor
Kristin Persson
Forskarstuderande
