Aspekter av naturvetenskapens karaktär i elevers argumentationer som svar på en pandemirelaterad socioscientific issue

Abstract

This study investigates how nature of science (NOS) may appear in students’ written argumentative responses to a socioscientific issue (SSI). It will also be explored how the COVID-19 pandemic may compose a context for working with NOS and SSI. In the literature overview it is concluded that including SSI in the classroom may be of great value considering students’ understanding of NOS. New studies suggests that the pandemic may make a favorable context for SSI and developing students’ understanding of NOS. In this study, 21 students in their senior year of upper secondary school, have written an argumentative response to a COVID-19 related SSI. A thematic analysis was used to analyze students’ argumentative responses considering NOS and the quality of argumentation. In students’ responses to the pandemic related SSI, NOS were detected in varying degrees. COVID-19 were shown to make up a context in which students were able to develop skills to make informed decisions in the public debate and develop scientific literacy.

Date of Award	2022-Jun
Original language	Swedish
Supervisor	Johanna Andersson (Supervisor) & Lisa Dessborn (Examiner)