Science lives: school choices and 'natural tendencies'

Saima Salehjee, Mike Watts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)
20 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

An analysis of 12 semi-structured interviews with university-based scientists and non-scientists illustrates their life journeys towards, or away from, science and the strengths and impact of life occurrences leading them to choose science or non-science professions. We have adopted narrative approaches and used Mezirow’s transformative learning theory framework. The areas of discussion from the result have stressed on three main categories that include ‘smooth transition’, ‘incremental wavering transition’ and ‘transformative transition’. The article concludes by discussing the key influences that shaped initial attitudes and direction in these people through natural inclination, environmental inspirations and perceptions of science.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)727-743
Number of pages17
JournalInternational Journal of Science Education
Volume37
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 9 Mar 2015

Keywords

  • transformative learning theory
  • scientists
  • non-scientists
  • narrative
  • attitude

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