The Effect of Gender on Attitude Towards Science Laboratory: A Meta-Analysis Study (The Case of Turkey)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gender on attitude towards science laboratory, gather the results by using the meta-analysis method, and detect the effect size of gender on attitude towards science laboratory. In order to achieve this purpose, a literature review was carried out for the studies conducted in Turkey between 2000 and 2017. As a result literature review, postgraduate theses, doctoral dissertations, and articles, which were appropriate for the study problem and had statistical data to be included in the meta-analysis study, were reviewed and examined in Turkish and English from national and international databases. In the meta-analysis study, the effect of gender on attitude towards science laboratory was tested. Firstly the related publications were collected in a pool by carrying out the literature review (n=164). In accordance with the criteria specified by the researchers, it was decided to include a total of 15 studies, containing the proper data based on the coding protocol, in the analysis. The sample of the study consisted of 2356 individuals including 884 men and 1472 women. The calculations of the effect size in the studies were performed by using “Comprehensive Meta-Analysis” statistical program for heterogeneity and publication bias analyses. A heterogeneous distribution was determined in the studies included (Q=32.22 p<0.05, I2=56.5). The value of general effect size of the laboratory approach concerning attitudes of the students towards this class was determined as d=0.07 (95% CI, SE=0.06) at the confidence interval of -0.07 and 0.21 by using the random effect model. According to the classification by Cohen, Manion, and Morrison (2007), it was determined that the variable of gender affected the attitude towards lab classes at weak level and in favor of women.

Keywords

• laboratuvar destekli fen eğitimi, meta-analiz, cinsiyet, tutum, etki büyüklüğü