Determination of science teacher candidates' attitudes, opinions and information requirements regarding sexuality

Abstract

In this study it was aimed to determine the attitudes and opinions of preservice science teachers who are supposed to provide information for the students in their courses on reproductive system and sexuality and to investigate whether they require information. For this purpose, the study was conducted on a total of 428 preservice teachers (257 female 171 male) from Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Education at the Department of Science Education to make contributions to prospective studies on sexual education. The data were collected using a questionnaire. A 3-point Likert-type scale consisting of 28 questions (Cronbach's alpha: 0.71) was applied to the preservice teachers. Considering all the results obtained from the study, it was determined that preservice science teachers who are supposed to provide sexual education for the primary students who reach puberty and the teachers who are to teach sexuality and the reproductive system which is included in Science and Technology curriculum are partly conservative and are in need of information.