Chinese Journal of Science Education


Vol. 11 No. 4 , Pages 431 - 455 , 2003

Factor Analysis of Middle Grades Science and Technology Curriculum Materials (Article written in chinese)

Hsiao-jen CHIOU, Chi-Jui LIEN, & Ie-Bin LIEN

Abstract

This study is intended to investigate the concepts in the middle grades materials in “Science and technology curriculum”. The basis of the study is the “Science and technology Material Item Correlation Table” drawn up by the research group. Answered by three current teachers, the correlation of each material item is displayed through SPSS statistical software (factor analysis) to understand potential internal factors and to display other structures in the curriculum. The results show that the three teachers’ factor analysis components are between 14 and 17, and the cumulative variance accounted for is about 80 %. In another analys to eliminate subjectivity and display the complete curriculum structure, 15 components were obtained and the cumulative variance accounted for is 83.4 %. This study is based on detailed teaching items in the “Science and technology curriculum”. In reconstructing the original curriculum structure with statistics in terms of “life oriented” surroundings in view of learners, 14 themes are obtained, they are the change of life-animal and vegetation growth, change of the living environment, living water, change of the air, change of seasons, living materials, living light, pressureapplication, electricity application, substance characteristics, material observation and analysis, earth resources, and technology resources application, observation and explanation. Teachers can use these structures to design curriculum model for teaching activities.

Keywords: factor analysis; science and technology curriculum; curriculum framework

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