Relation between freshman and senior grades of science teacher candidates? science achievement, attitude toward science teaching, university entrance scores and cumulative grade point average

In this thesis, the relation between science teacher candidates? attitude toward science teaching, science achievement, cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and university entrance scores were evaluated. This research was performed at 2010-2011 fall semester with a total of 332 science teacher candidates from freshman and senior grades of department of science education at Dokuz Eylül University and Pamukkale University. The data were obtained with science achievement test developed by Sarıkaya (2004), science teaching attitude scale developed by Thompson and Shrigley (1986) and translated and adapted into Turkish by Tekkaya, Çakıroğlu and Özkan (2002), cumulative grade point average and university entrance scores of science teacher candidates.In the results of research, science teacher candidates exhibited positive attitude toward science teaching and it was determined that their science achievement was slightly greater than middle level. It was observed that there was a middle level, positive and significant relation between science teacher candidates? science achievement and attitude toward science teaching. A low level and negative relation was founded between science teacher candidates? science achievement and university entrance scores. In addition, no significant relation was observed between science teacher candidates? science achievement and cumulative grade point average. Furthermore, attitude toward science teaching, science teacher candidates? university entrance scores and cumulative grade point average were lack of significant relation. Additionally, science teacher candidates? science achievement and attitude toward science teaching were analyzed in terms of different variables such as gender, their parents? educational level, parents? economic status, etc.