Investigating secondary education biology instruction in the context of biological causality

IV ABSTRACT INVESTIGATING SECONDARY EDUCATION BIOLOGY INSTRUCTION IN THE CONTEXT OF BIOLOGICAL CAUSALITY Hasan Güner BERKANT M.A. Thesis, Department of Educational Sciences Supervisor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Ahmet DO?ANAY June 2002, 178 pages This research was prepared to investigate secondary education biology instruction in the context of biological causality by using a qualitative technique. The research is based on the idea defending all events/facts have causes and effects in the nature, all events/facts are connected to each other by cause-effect relationships and biology lessons must be taught according to these cause-effect relationships. The subject of the study consists of 18 biology teachers who carry out biology lessons in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades of 12 secondary schools placing in Adana City Seyhan District. Six of the teachers carry out 1st grade biology lessons, six of the teachers carry out 2nd grade biology lessons and six of the teachers carry out 3rd grade biology lessons. To collect data that are related to the study, observation and interview forms were used. The forms were developed by researcher, and aim of the study, pilot studies, oppinions of experts and literature were taken into consideration. First, all the teachers participated in the study were observed in classrooms and later each one was interviewed. To prevent losing data, tape recorder was used and permission was got for this recording from the teachers. Observation and interview data were analysed according to qualitative research methods and findings were interpreted. In spite of four of teachers were determined more adequate than the rest 14 teachers, it is concluded that biology lessons aren't taught sufficiently based on the biological causality.Key Words: Secondary Education, Biology, Biology Teaching, Causality, Biological Causality.