Analysing arguments in science forum websites

In science communication, science forums are one of the most important tools. By examining the arguments put forward by individuals for a scientific discussion by looking at science forums, the nature of public participation can be revealed. In this respect, the aim of the study was determined as examining the nature and components of the arguments in the determined science forum sites. The content analysis method was used in the study. A total of 10 science forum sites were reached within the scope of the study. Among these forum sites, a site with the highest number of users and the highest number of topics opened and discussions were held was determined by criterion sampling. This site was determined as scienceforums.net. Secondly, among the many topics opened on this site, again by using criterion sampling, it was taken as a basis that they were from the fields of physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics and that detailed discussions took place. In this context, 16 contents were selected, 4 from each field. A total of 119 arguments were examined in the study. Of these, 36 were determined as level 1, 56 as level 2, 10 as level 3, 16 as level 4 arguments, and 1 as level 5 arguments. Therefore, it is understood that a large proportion of the arguments are structures that do not contain rebuttals and are basically focused on claims and counterclaims. It can be said that science form writers are inadequate in creating qualified arguments and that they need to acquire information about argument structures for qualified participation in discussions. Finally, it is suggested that researchers conduct studies on how society can develop its argument structures