Examining Indonesian pre-service chemistry teachers' views of nature of science and technology (VNOST)

Abstract

This study aims to examine the views of the nature of science and technology (VNOST) of the pre-service chemistry teacher. The participants comprised 23 6th semester students at one of the state universities in Semarang, Indonesia. This study utilized a questionnaire and qualitative approach to gathering data. The NOST questionnaire consists of eight multiple-choice items, comprising of four aspects: definitions of science and technology, the epistemology, the internal sociology of science, and the external sociology of science. It was found that 78% of students had incomplete but legitimate views on the definition of science. They only viewed science as a study of principles, laws, and theories in biology, physics, and chemistry or body of knowledge without considering the scientific process behind it. Meanwhile, the remaining 22% consider science includes an investigative process and the process of resulting knowledge. Generally, the majority of the pre-service chemistry teachers still have lack comprehension of defining science and technology both epistemologically and sociologically. Thus, the results showed that pre-service chemistry teachers still need to improve their views of the nature of science and technology.