Investigation of the relationship among secondary school students' science scores, their curiosity and motivation levels toward the sciences: A structural equation modelling

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship among secondary school students' science scores, and curiosity and motivation of those students' toward the sciences in regards to various variables. In this context, a bunch of scales and forms were used including Information Form to collect students' science scores and various demographic information about them, Science Curiosity Scale to measure students' curiosity levels, and Science Oriented Motivation Scale to measure students' motivation levels. The study group consists of 10 secondary schools placed in Uşak Province in Turkey. The scales and form were implemented to 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who were able to. After that, analysis of data was processed via software including SPSS 23 and AMOS 24. Based on the findings, it can be said that girls are more curious than boys to the science, and their motivation levels are higher than boys. In addition, it is also found that parents' educational levels affect students' curiosity and motivation levels; so the higher parents' educational levels, the higher curiosity and motivation levels. However, curiosity and motivation levels are both decreasing while students are getting older. As a result of structural equation modelling, it can be said that motivation predicts curiosity and science scores significantly and positive, while curiosity does science scores significantly and negative.