Comparing science process skills of prospective science teachers: A cross-sectional study

Findings of the data obtained from the assessing science process skills test for each module are given below.

Identifying Variables and Formulating Hypotheses

Graph 1. Mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 1 “identifying variables and formulating hypotheses”

Graph 1 presents a comparative display of the mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 1. As the graph shows, while PST at grade 1 score an average of 3.12 points, those at the 4th grade score an average of 3.7 points from module 1 questions.

Table 1 Kruskall Wallis- H Test Results for Module 1

Comparing of SPS		N	Mean Rank	Sd	χ²	P	Meaningful Differences
Module 1	Grade 1 (G1)	33	44.45	3	12.435	.006	G1< G2; G2~ G3; G4> G1, G2, G3
	Grade 2 (G2)	23	63.24
	Grade 3 (G3)	27	61.81
	Grade 4 (G4)	34	68.01
	Total	117

A comparison of mean scores of PST from different grades for module 1 shows that [ (3) = 12.43, p< .05] it is possible to say that there is a meaningful difference. Although the comparison shows that there is no difference between the 2nd and the 3rd grades, it is possible to say that there is a continuous development from the 1 to the 4th grade.

Experimenting, Changing and Controlling Variables (Module 2)

Graph 2. Mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 2 “experimenting, changing and controlling variables”

Graph 2 is a comparative display of mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 2. As the graph shows, while PST at grade 1 score an average of 0.54 points, those at grade 4th score an average of 0.67 points from module 2 questions.

Table 2. Kruskall Wallis H Test Results for Module 2

Comparing of SPS		N	Mean Rank	sd		χ²		P		Meaningful Differences
Module 2	Grade1(G1)	33	55.91	3	1.345		.719		G1~ G2 ~ G3~G4
	Grade2(G2)	23	57.07
	Grade3(G3)	27	58.67
	Grade4(G4)	34	63.57
	Total	117

Since a comparison of mean scores of PST from different grades for module 2 shows that [ X²(3) = 1,345, p> .05], there exists no meaningful difference. Although the comparison shows that there is no difference between the 1st, the 2nd and the 3rd grade, the mean score of the 4th grade is a bit higher than those of the rest.

Collecting Data (Preparing Data Table)

Graph 3. Mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 3 “collecting data (preparing data table)”

Graph 3 comparatively displays mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 3. As the graph shows, while PST at grade 1 score an average of 7,84 points, 4th grade score an average of 11,65 points from module 3 questions.

Table 3. Kruskall Wallis H Test Results for Module 3

Comparing of SPS		N	Mean Rank	sd	χ²	p	Meaningful Differences
Module 3	Grade 1 (G1)	33	47.00	3	33.184	.000	G1<G2; G2>G3; G3<G4; G4> G1; G4>G2.
	Grade 2 (G2)	23	51.07
	Grade 3 (G3)	27	45.37
	Grade 4 (G4)	34	86.84
	Total	117

Since a comparison of mean scores of PST from different grades for module 3 shows that χ²(3) = 33.18, p< .05], it is possible to say that there is a meaningful difference. It is also possible to say that PST’ mean scores except for grade 3 develop over the increasing grades.

Drawing Graphs

Graph 4. Mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 4 “drawing graphs”

Graph 4 presents a comparative display of the mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 4. As the graph shows, while PST at grade 1 score an average of 15.24 points, 4th grade score an average of 14.35 points from module 4 questions.

Table 4. Kruskall Wallis H Test Results for Module 4

Comparing of SPS		N	Mean Rank	Sd	χ²	p	Meaningful Differences
Module 4	Grade 1 (G1)	33	62.89	3	11.914	.008	G1>G2; G2< G3; G3> G4; G1> G4; G4> G2
	Grade 2 (G2)	23	43.11
	Grade 3 (G3)	27	74.30
	Grade 4 (G4)	34	53.82
	Total	117

Since a comparison of mean scores of PST from different grades for module 4 shows that [χ² (3) = 11.914, p< .05] it is possible to say that there is a meaningful difference. There is no steady increase in mean scores over the increasing grades, with the highest mean score belonging to third grade.

Interpreting Data (Interpreting Graphs)

Graph 5. Mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 5 “interpreting the data and reading graph”

Graph 5 presents a comparative display of the mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 5. As the graph shows, while PST at grade 1 score an average of 2.66 points, 2nd grade score an average of 2.82 and the 4th grade score an average of 2.76 points from module 4 questions.

Table 5. Kruskall Wallis H Test Results for Module 5

Comparing of SPS		N	Mean Rank	Sd	χ²	p	Meaningful Differences
Module 5	Grade 1 (G1)	33	58.67	3	.782	.854	G1~ G2 ~ G3~G4
	Grade 2 (G2)	23	62.89
	Grade 3 (G3)	27	54.98
	Grade 4 (G4)	34	59.88
	Total	117

Since a comparison of mean scores of PST from different grades for module 5 shows that [χ² (3) = .782, p> .05], it is possible to say that there is no meaningful difference in PST’ SPS. It is possible to say that the mean scores of PST from all grades are close to each other.

Identifying Variables and Formulating Hypotheses

Graph 6. Mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 6 “identifying variables and formulating hypotheses”

Graph 6 presents a comparative display of the mean scores of answers given by PST at different grades to questions in module 6. As the graph shows, while PST at grade 1 score an average of 5.7 points, 4th grade score an average of 6.7 points from module 6 questions.

Table 6. Kruskall Wallis-H Test Results for Module 6

Comparing of SPS		N	Mean Rank	Sd	χ²	p	Meaningful Differences
Module 6	Grade 1 (G1)	33	55.38	3	10.036	.018	G1< G2; G2> G3; G4> G3; G4> G1; G4> G2
	Grade 2 (G2)	23	61.72
	Grade 3 (G3)	27	45.24
	Grade 4 (G4)	34	71.60
	Total	117

Since a comparison of mean scores of PST from different grades for module 6 shows that [χ² (3) = 10.036, p< .05], it is possible to say that there is a meaningful difference in PST’ SPS. It is possible to say that there is steady development in scores from the first to the fourth grade except for grade 3.