Secondary School Students' Attitudes towards Chemistry: A Cultural Comparison between Germany and China
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| Title: | Secondary School Students' Attitudes towards Chemistry: A Cultural Comparison between Germany and China |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Lilith Rüschenpöhler (ORCID |
| Source: | International Journal of Science Education. 2025 47(11):1381-1400. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 20 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Secondary School Students, Student Attitudes, Chemistry, Collectivism, Individualism, Cultural Differences, Gender Differences, Self Concept, Academic Persistence, Sense of Belonging, Language Skills |
| Geographic Terms: | Germany, China |
| DOI: | 10.1080/09500693.2024.2365461 |
| ISSN: | 0950-0693 1464-5289 |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the attitudes towards chemistry of male and female secondary school students from Germany and China to understand the role of collectivism and individualism in attitudes towards chemistry, comparing Germany, a relatively individualist country, with China which is rather collectivist. Literature suggests that the gender gap in attitudes towards science is larger in collectivist countries. Beyond that, the data base is insufficient. 1468 secondary school students (China: 883, Germany: 585) responded to a survey. Results of ANOVAs suggested that students from China show more negative attitudes towards chemistry and a more pronounced gender gap in favour of males regarding chemistry self-concept, persistence in chemistry, sense of belonging in chemistry, and perception of linguistic abilities in chemistry. This conforms to theories of collectivism and individualism. However, this trend was not found for the need for the cognition in chemistry and perceived student and teacher support in chemistry. The paper discusses societal aspects that might explain the deviances from collectivism/individualism research. It shows that (a) individualism and collectivism impact students' attitudes towards chemistry but (b) more nuanced analyses are required considering specific sociocultural and economic factors to understand attitudes towards chemistry in cross-cultural comparisons. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1493918 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the attitudes towards chemistry of male and female secondary school students from Germany and China to understand the role of collectivism and individualism in attitudes towards chemistry, comparing Germany, a relatively individualist country, with China which is rather collectivist. Literature suggests that the gender gap in attitudes towards science is larger in collectivist countries. Beyond that, the data base is insufficient. 1468 secondary school students (China: 883, Germany: 585) responded to a survey. Results of ANOVAs suggested that students from China show more negative attitudes towards chemistry and a more pronounced gender gap in favour of males regarding chemistry self-concept, persistence in chemistry, sense of belonging in chemistry, and perception of linguistic abilities in chemistry. This conforms to theories of collectivism and individualism. However, this trend was not found for the need for the cognition in chemistry and perceived student and teacher support in chemistry. The paper discusses societal aspects that might explain the deviances from collectivism/individualism research. It shows that (a) individualism and collectivism impact students' attitudes towards chemistry but (b) more nuanced analyses are required considering specific sociocultural and economic factors to understand attitudes towards chemistry in cross-cultural comparisons. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0950-0693 1464-5289 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/09500693.2024.2365461 |
