Cambodian Upper Secondary School Students’ Attitudes towards Science: Trends and Patterns

Attitude towards science is the issue with long standing attention and interest in science education research because it is crucial for not only teaching science but also for understanding students’ future participation in science. This study examines trends and patterns of Cambodian upper secondary school students’ attitudes towards science. The data for the study was collected from 455 students of 11th grade using survey instrument measuring six constructs of attitudes towards science. The results depicted that students have higher positive attitudes towards the importance of science on society, practical work in science and enjoyment on practical work in science; but they tended to have lower rating scale on self-concept in science and science learning and also displayed lower scale on attitudes towards future participation in science. Certain students’ attitudes towards science patterns were indeed embedded significant differences between male and female, science and social science tracks, and urban and non-urban. To enhance students’ attitudes towards science, both school and home environment should enhance more practical work in science classes and encourage more participation in science related activities.