CULTURAL VS SCIENTIFIC BELIEFS IN SCIENCE CLASSROOM: AN INTERCULTURAL STUDY OF MISCONCEPTION IN SOME BIOLOGY CONCEPTS IN NIGERIA

This study was carried out to investigate students’ perception of some biological concepts. It compared students’ perception of these concepts among different cultures in Nigeria. The study employed descriptive survey research design. Senior secondary School Students in Nigeria were the population for the study. Multistage sampling technique was adopted for the study. From the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, three basic cultural groups were identified. Three states were purposively selected based on accessibility for the study. From each of the states, four schools were randomly selected. Two questionnaires were developed for the study. These are Concept Questionnaire for Students (CQS) and Concept Questionnaire for Teachers (CQT). The study revealed that both students and teachers hold different cultural beliefs about selected biological concepts (Genetics and Evolution) studied. The study also showed that students’ misconception about a concept vary from one cultural group to another and that not all teachers were aware of nor reconcile students’ misconceptions in science classroom particularly in this area of learning. The study therefore revealed the importance of teachers’ awareness about misconceptions in these concepts among different cultural groups and so that necessary solutions can be proffered on how it should be eradicated in science classroom.