Abstract:

In contemporary society, science and technology have become integral and pivotal drivers of further progress. Consequently, the importance of science education is increasingly recognized. A critical component of science education is scientific literacy, which equips students with the necessary tools and knowledge to address current challenges. An integral part of scientific literacy is the acquisition of specific scientific skills, with scientific observation being a foundational skill essential for further inquiry. This skill underpins scientific discovery and is crucial for everyday information acquisition. While we naturally engage in observation every day, spontaneous observation differs significantly from structured scientific observation. it is essential that students possess well-developed scientific observation skills. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the level of students' scientific observation skills. In biology, observation is a critical skill for learning about nature and species. For effective skill development in students, it is necessary to assess their observational skills and track their progress. However, there is currently no comprehensive tool available for this purpose. Therefore, the aim was to create a test focused on the skill of observing natural objects. A test scale has been developed targeting the ability to distinguish morphological features without using any specific terminology, consisting of 36 items. Following the creation of the test, the content was validated by a panel of experts in science education and biology. Then, a pilot study was conducted to ensure the reliability and applicability of the test, a pilot study was conducted involving 73 lower secondary school students. The initial results indicated that the test functions effectively in assessing students' scientific observation skills. Additionally, the test was designed for ease of administration and evaluation and to be time-efficient, requiring around 12 minutes to complete on average. The pilot test showed a good ability to differentiate the traits as a whole, although relative colouration was also present in other items. The mean success rate was 41%. The minimum success rate of the questions was .123, and the maximum was .849. The test's internal consistency, assessed by Cronbach's alpha, was .827, indicating high reliability. For macroscopic objects, the consistency was .741 (zoological .610 and botanical .607), and for microbiological objects, it was .604. The pilot testing demonstrated promising results, confirming its core structure's effectiveness and its focus areas' relevance.

Keywords:

Scientific observation, scientific literacy, scientific skills, test, biology education.