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Peer-reviewed article

Are you SLiM? – Developing an instrument for civic scientific literacy measurement (SLiM) based on media coverage

August 1, 2012 | Media and Technology

The purpose of this study is to develop an instrument to assess civic scientific literacy measurement (SLiM), based on media coverage. A total of 50 multiple-choice items were developed based on the most common scientific terms appearing in media within Taiwan. These questions covered the subjects of biology (45.26%, 22 items), earth science (37.90%, 19 items), physics (11.58%, 6 items) and chemistry (5.26%, 3 items). A total of 1034 students from three distinct groups (7th graders, 10th graders, and undergraduates) were invited to participate in this study. The reliability of this instrument was 0.86 (KR 20). The average difficulty of the SLiM ranged from 0.19 to 0.91, and the discrimination power was 0.1 to 0.59. According to participants' performances on SLiM, it was revealed that 10th graders (Mean = 37.34±0.23) performed better than both undergraduates (Mean = 33.00±0.33) and 7th graders (Mean = 26.73±0.45) with significant differences in their SLiM.

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  • Carl-Johan Rundgren
    Author
    National Taiwan Normal University
  • Shu-Nu Chang Rundgren
    Author
    Linköping University
  • Yuen-Hsien Tseng
    Author
    National Taiwan Normal University
  • Pei-Ling Lin
    Author
    National Taiwan Normal University
  • Chun-Yen Chang
    Author
    National Taiwan Normal University
  • Citation

    DOI : 10.1177/0963662510377562
    Publication Name: Public Understanding of Science
    Volume: 21
    Number: 6
    Page Number: 759–773
    Resource Type: Research Products
    Discipline: Education and learning science | General STEM
    Audience: Middle School Children (11-13) | Youth/Teen (up to 17) | Undergraduate/Graduate Students | General Public | Educators/Teachers | Museum/ISE Professionals | Scientists
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Comics, Books, and Newspapers

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