SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ACTIVITY IN COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL OF LITHUANIA: TEACHERS’ POSITION

The formation of scientific research activity (SRA) abilities in comprehensive school is undoubtedly, a very important sphere that has not received a proper attention yet. Current teaching and learning process has changed, in fact, from the point of view of paradigm – subjects taught are becoming a means of the realization of learners' needs and interests. Scientific research activity is not an entertainment but responsible, thorough work requiring a lot of self-independence. During such an activity pupils' analytical thinking gets stronger, information searching and using abilities are formed, they learn how to analyze gathered material, prepare reports, make research presentations and so on. The research was carried out between January and April, 2010. The method of the research was survey in written form (questionnaire). On the whole, 380 questionnaires were acknowledged acceptable. The article deals with Natural science and Mathematics teachers' opinion about the situation of scientific research activity in comprehensive school. A factor analysis was performed in order to find out the structure of 41 items. It was found that in the teaching of scientific research activities the cooperation methods are used. It was found that in general the most favourable to SRA are biology and chemistry teachers, and the less favourable - teachers of geography. It was also found that highly significant factor in the development of scientific research activity is the educational environment.