Ways of perception of basic astronomy terms of 5th grade primary school students with/without mental retardation

This research has been done for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is any difference as to basic astronomy terms such as shape and motion of the earth, formation of day and night, phases and motion of moon and motion of sun between the students with/without mental retardations.50 students with mental retardations and 50 students without mental retardations from the primary schools under Ministry of Education in Antalya have participated in this research. For the purpose of selecting primary schools and students, among the purposive sampling methods easily accessible sampling method has been selected.The research is designed as a descriptive study. Quantitative data of this descriptively figurated research have been obtained via multiple choice test (TABT-ÇSS) applied to the 5th grade integrated students with/without mental retardations. Qualitative data of the research has been obtained as the result of half-oriented negotiations with the students participated in.Reliability research has been completed by 92 5th grade integrated students that are out of research. Of these students 22 have mental retardations while 70 do not have. Data results have been determined by the KR 20 formula in ITEMAN program in which reliability coefficent is ? = 0.838. After validity and reliability research, 20 questions have been converted into a computer-based test by the help of a computer instructor using Shockwave Flash software.Quantitative data of the test have been analyzed statistically via SPSS 15 software that contains ?t test, arithmetic mean, discriminant analysis, Wilk?s Lambda and chi-squared test? and findings have been interpreted after being tabulated. Qualitative data have been analyzed after interview questions have been transcribed. Categories have been created according to the answers of the students and frequencies have been calculated according to them.As a result of the research, there has been ascertained a significant difference between the test results of the integrated students with mental retardations and the ones without mental retardations. It has been determined that students with/without mental retardations are mostly wrong at motion of the earth, formation of day and night and motion and phases of moon. Solutions and suggestions regarding science education have been put forward in the light of findings.KEYWORDS: Mental retardation, astronomy terms, science and technology education, concept learning.