Between absolute truth and multiperspectivity: New students' orientations towards science, with a focus on students of educational sciences

Abstract

The university environment contains both explicit (i.e. standards and rules) and implicit (i.e. cultural spheres) features. In addition, and with regard to these features, university settings possess a distinct potential for socialisation. However, the successful socialisation of new students cannot be assumed. This article suggests that new students' implicit images of how science is usually put into practice are crucial for explicit scientific learning and processes of socialisation. Based on qualitative empirical findings, an exemplary typology of two ideal types of new students' implicit images of science ('essentialist-answering' and 'questioning') is illustrated here, and the implications for academic teaching are discussed. 16.12.2015 | Franz Krämer (Munich)

Keywords

• higher education
• orientation towards science
• new students
• socialisation
• documentary method
• qualitative research