SCIENCE SUBJECTS CHOICE AS A CRITERION OF STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TO SCIENCE

The attitudes of lower and upper secondary school students (the 9-11th forms, aged 15-17, boys and girls separately) toward natural sciences were investigated by using an inquiry method in Sweden, Finland and Latvia during 1998-2005. Results of this study show, that positive attitudes have decreased from 1998 to 2005 at the 9th form both in Latvia and in Sweden. In Finland, an increase among boys, who recognize subjects of the natural circle (except for General Science) as necessary, was observed. The number of positive answers of the Finnish girls was, however, in 2005 much smaller than in 1998. In a special investigation in Latvia was shown, that generally the least interest in the Natural subjects is observed among the 11th formers. The findings of this study indicate increased quantity of the respondents denying the importance of natural sciences as a whole, as well as overt difference between boys and girls in estimations of the importance of natural sciences.