A research that aims to i̇mprove the perceptions of the middle school students about the nature of science: travel in time

This study aims to determine the changes in the perceptions of the nature of science of 7th grade students through the activities carried out within the scope of the unit about particulate structure of matter. In the study, the nature of science is discussed in terms of science, scientific knowledge, scientific method, scientist and imagination in science and creativity. For this purpose, the VNOS-E questionnaire was conducted and the obtained data were evaluated in the context of the nature of scientific knowledge, variability, scientific theories, observation-inference, imagination and creativity. In the 2014-2015 academic year, 9 male and 9 female 7th grade students from a middle school located 14 km away from the Hendek town of Sakarya province participated in this study. In the study, action research,one of qualitative research designs, has been used. In the action plan developed within the scope of the research, activities that improve the perception of the nature of science related to learning outcomes of the unit, have been carried out. Although there has not been much difference or development with the action plan developed at the 7th Grade level about the nature of science discussed in this research, positive changes have been observed in some ways. Therefore, based on the results of the research, it can be said that the fact that the activities related to the nature of science are not implicit, but clearly included in the science education program at the elementary level will be more effective in improving the nature perceptions of the students. Keywords: Middle School Students, Nature of Science, Perception of Science Nature