The Reality of Science Education Research in Jordan in the Period 2000-2009

Abstract

This study aimed at identifying the reality of research in
science education in Jordan in the period 2000-2009 in terms of
research domains, types, and target groups. To achieve the objectives
of the study, abstracts of 188 theses, and 40 papers published in
journals of Jordanian universities were analyzed. Theses and
published papers were classified using tools developed for the
purpose of this study. The results showed that 72.8% of the analyzed
studies were in the domain of teaching and learning science, and the
focus was on methods and strategies of teaching. Of the sample
papers 20.2% were on the science teacher, and the focus was the
teacher's professional knowledge; 7% covered science textbooks, and
the focus was on textbook analysis. With regard to research types, the
results showed that 61.4% of the analyzed studies were experimental,
19.3% descriptive, 16.7% causal comparative, 2.2% correlational and
0.4% historical. The main target groups were students of grades (7-
11) in the domain of teaching and learning, and science teachers' in
general in the field of teacher, and science textbooks for grades (5-8).