Determination of conceptual understandings of primary school teachers and teacher candidates in astronomy

In this study, it was aimed to determine conceptual understandings of primary school teachers and primary school teacher candidates in basic astronomy topics. For this purpose, a quantitative research using a descriptive survey model was carried out. An Astronomy Concept Test consisting of two-tier items was used as a data collection tool in the research. The participants of the study consisted of primary school teachers in the central cities of Ankara and primary school teacher candidates attending to Hacettepe University and Gazi University. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one way analysis of variance and correlation analysis were used for the analysis of the data obtained from the research. As a result of the research, it was seen that the total scores of the primary school teachers in the Astronomy Concept Test were higher than those of the primary school teacher candidates. It was determined that conceptual understandings of primary school teachers in astronomy topics was not significantly different according to the variables of grade level, gender, professional seniority, graduated institution, education level, father's education level and mother's education level. While conceptual understandings of primary school teacher candidates in astronomy topics was not statistically significantly different according to the variables of father's education level and mother's education level; it was significantly different according to grade level and gender variables. Furthermore, it has been observed that there was no significant relationship between the conceptual understandings of primary school teacher candidates and their grade point averages. The results of the research revealed that primary school teachers and primary school teacher candidates held various misconceptions in astronomy topics.