Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Biology--Study and teaching (Secondary)--Iowa; Biology--Study and teaching (Secondary); Evolution--Study and teaching; Iowa;
Abstract
This study was designed to determine the status of evolution as a topic in Iowa high school biology classrooms. The extent of its coverage, as well as the type of understanding exhibited by the teacher, was viewed in light of the teachers' religious background, community opinion and college training. Two survey instruments were utilized to gather data. Instrument One was designed to quantitatively examine the structure of Iowa high school biology classes, textbooks used and the educational background of the teachers. Instrument Two was constructed to analyze Iowa biology teachers' self-perceived religious and scientific backgrounds relative to their treatment of evolution in the biology classroom. The population of the study included all people employed as high school biology teachers, public and parochial, in the state of Iowa. Two Stratified random samples were selected from the population two years apart (1984, 1986). To ensure state-wide coverage, teachers were classified by their Area Education Agency. A 25% sample was drawn from each of the fifteen AEA. Using analysis of variance, data from Instrument One were analyzed. Textbooks, high school population size, the year the B.A. degree was obtained, and the major of the undergraduate degree were shown to make no statistically significant difference in the amount of time spent teaching evolution. The chi square test of independence was used to analyze data gathered from Instrument Two. Statistically significant differences were shown to exist between self stated faith positions (liberal, moderate, conservative) within religious expressions and how teachers accepted evolution; college preparation to teach evolution and how teachers accepted evolution; and teachers' characterization of their community's position on creation and evolution and perceived pressure felt from their community. On the basis of this analysis, it can be supported that the topics of evolution and creationism, as treated in Iowa high school biology classrooms, are affected most by the teachers' religious views and their college training in evolution.
Year of Submission
1986
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Biology
First Advisor
David McCalley
Second Advisor
Daryl Smith
Third Advisor
Roy Unruh
Date Original
1986
Object Description
1 PDF file (148 leaves)
Copyright
©1986 Heidi Ann Andre
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Andre, Heidi Ann, "An Analysis of Factors Affecting the Status of Evolution as a Topic in Iowa High School Biology Classrooms" (1986). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 1971.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/1971
Comments
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