APPLIED SCIENCES STUDENTS' CONCEPTIONS OF NATURE OF SCIENCE: THE CASE OF OMANI STUDENTS

This Study explored Omani Applied Sciences Students' conceptions of nature of science with a particular focus on the nature of (a) scientific Knowledge, (b) scientific inquiry and (c) scientific enterprise. The tentative, inferential, subjective and creative nature of science, in addition to the myth of the scientific method and experimentation, the nature of scientific laws and theories, the social and cultural embeddedness, and cooperation and collaboration in science were considered in the conceptual framework. Bothe quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently using the Myths of Science Questionnaire from 200 Applies Sciences Omani students.
Results showed that the majority of the students in this study held uninformed conceptions about most of the target of nature of science aspects. Also, an inconsistent response pattern was revealed in students' response to the aspects directly related nature of science. The study recommends that a revision of the curriculum and pedagogies should be considered and taken place in the courses of the Omani Colleges of Applied Sciences in addition of further studies are required in term of acquiring better understand how Omani students can improve their conceptions of nature of science.