The effect of virtual and face-to-face laboratory practices on secondary school students' science process skills, attitudes and anxiety towards science lesson

The aim of this research is 5. To investigate the effect of virtual and face-to-face laboratory applications related to the classroom "Electricity in Our Life" unit on students' scientific process skills, attitudes and concerns for the science course. The study group selected by the appropriate sampling method of the research is composed of fifth grade students of a secondary school located in Konya province in the 2021-2022 academic year. In the study involving a total of 28 students, there are 18 students (10 boys, 8 girls) in the experimental group and 10 students (5 boys, 5 girls) in the control group. The "Scientific Process Skills Test, (BSBT)", "Attitude Scale" and "Anxiety Scale" were used as data collection tools in the research where the semi-experimental pattern with pre-test-post-test control group was used as the method. BSTB consists of 25 items and the KR20 value is 0.86. The attitude scale consists of 12 items and the Cronbach Alpha value is 0.926. The anxiety scale consists of 18 items and the Cronbach Alpha value is 0.895. The scales and the test determined during the application process of the research were applied as a preliminary test, and then information was given using techniques such as question-answer, visual matching for the achievements related to the unit, and applications for experiments were made in both environments. After the application, scales and tests were applied as the final test. The collected data were analyzed and tabulated with the SPSS 26 package program. As a result of the obtained findings, an increase in scores in both groups in terms of scientific process skills; a slight decrease in average scores in both groups in terms of attitude; it was found that there was a decrease in the anxiety score averages in the control group, and a slight increase in the experimental group. As a result of the research, both face-to-face laboratories and virtual laboratories applications can be used to develop scientific process skills in the electrical unit in our life. By taking into account the reason for the increase in anxiety after the virtual laboratory application, research can be conducted that reveals the causes of the increase in anxiety.