Systemizing: A Cross-Cultural Constant for Motivation to Learn Science

2013-11-01
Zeyer, Albert
Cetin-Dindar, Ayla
Zain, Ahmad Nurulazam Md
Jurisevic, Mojca
Devetak, Iztok
Odermatt, Freia
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The present study is based on the empathizing-systemizing (E-S) theory of cognitive science. It was hypothesized that the influence of students' gender on their motivation to learn science is often overestimated in the research literature and that cognitive style is more important formotivation than students' gender. By using structural equation modeling, and based on previous research, a precise causal model was formulated to test this hypothesis. Then, using multiple group confirmatory analysis, the model was tested in a cross-cultural context that included four countries-Malaysia, Slovenia, Switzerland, andTurkey-and 1,188 upper secondary students. Datawere collected using standard questionnaires on cognitive style andmotivation to learn science. The results showed fullmediation of systemizing-the second dimension of the E-S theory-between gender andmotivation. That is, gender had no direct impact on motivation, but systemizing explained 27% of thevariation in students'motivation scores. The indirect impact of genderwas significant but very low; it explained 1.5% of the variance, in favor of boys. Empathizing-the first dimension of the E-S theory-had noimpact on students' motivation scores. This causalmodel proved to be similar (invariant) in all four cultures. The results suggest that considering students' cognitive style, instead of or in addition to their gender, could lead to a better understanding of students' motivation to learn science. Science teaching methods that support both cognitive styles-systemizing and empathizing-could enhance students' learning of science. (C) 2013Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res SciTeach 50: 1047-1067, 2013
Education
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/68287
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING
Department of Educational Sciences, Article

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Citation Formats
A. Zeyer, A. Cetin-Dindar, A. N. M. Zain, M. Jurisevic, I. Devetak, and F. Odermatt, “Systemizing: A Cross-Cultural Constant for Motivation to Learn Science,” JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING, pp. 1047–1067, 2013, Accessed: 00, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11511/68287.
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