Interest in environmental issues as a determinant of science literacy

Periodical
Forum for International Research in Education
Volume
7
Year
2021
Issue number
1
Page range
115-131
Relates to study/studies
PISA 2018

Interest in environmental issues as a determinant of science literacy

A multinational review with artificial neural network analysis

Abstract

This study uses PISA 2018 data to analyze, from a multinational perspective, whether interest in environmental issues is a determining factor of science literacy. A relational survey model is used as a quantitative research design to analyze secondary data obtained from the PISA 2018 evaluation data of 98,306 students at the age of 15 in 15 different countries and economies. Several statistical tests, including t-test, multiple regression analysis, and artificial neural network analysis are employed. According to the results of the analysis, significant differences are found between the science literacy scores of students who are 'very interested' in the environmental issues in their country and those who are not at all interested. Similarly, significant differences are found between the science literacy scores of students who are 'very interested' in environmental issues in other countries and those who are not at all interested. In addition, students' relevance to environmental problems are factors that statistically predict students' science literacy in a significant way.