Secondary school student's views on scientist, inventor and engineer

This study was conducted in order to determine what sort of scientists, inventors and engineers have in secondary school students. For this purpose qualitative research method has been determined in the study. The study was carried out in the 2016-2017 education year with the Çileme Secondary School 5, 6, 7 and 8th grade students (N= 80) in the Menderes district of İzmir. Scientist, Inventor and Engineer Survey (BİMMA)" developed by the researcher and field expert was used as data collection tool. Scientist, Inventor and Engineer Survey (BİMMA) contains word association questions, metaphorical perception questions and open ended questions. Pilot work was done in the first phase of the application. In the pilot study, intelligibility was tested by applying Scientist, Inventor and Engineer Survey (BİMMA) to students (N= 10), deficiencies were eliminated and duration of application was determined. In the main application, the data obtained by completing the students' Scientist, Inventor and Engineer Survey (BİMMA) were analyzed using qualitative data analysis techniques. According to the findings, when the word "scientist" is mentioned, the words such as mostly experiment, science white laboratory coat, intelligence, lightbulb come to the students' minds. There have been such stereotype ideas as a scientist works in a quiet and dark laboratory environment and they use experiment tube, beherglasses, graded cylinder and microscope. Besides, to the findings, the students sometimes describe an inventor as a scientist, sometimes an engineer. At the findings about engineer, students state such words as construction, house, computer and machine; they states that an engineer deals in machine, drawing and construction. They state that an engineer works in a room with a computer or constructions and that she/he uses such construction things as sand , brick, stone, cement, concrete, pencil and papers. It has been deduced that the students give stereotype answers when they state their ideas about a scientist, inventor and engineer. As a result, the ideas of the students about a scientist, inventor and engineer should be improved and a wide perspective should be given to the students. Key words: Secondary school student, scientist, inventor, engineer