An examination on the consciousness of science consumers who use science produced by scientific fields

The aim of this study is to determine Science teacher candidates and 8th grade elementary students? level of awareness of the science produced by scientific fields, their status of using this science, their frequency of using it, and their consciousness level in the stage of this science being used.The research was carried out in 2006-2007 spring mid-term and 2007-2008 autumn mid-term with teacher candidates who were continuing their final year in the Department of Science Teacher Education, Faculty of Education, Gazi University, and with 8th grade students from Ziya Gökalp Elemantary School, Onuncu Yıl Elemantary School, Emniyetçiler Elemantary School, Gazi ,Elementary School and Anıttepe Yücetepe Elemantary School in Ankara.Both qualitative and quantitative survey methods were the applied research techniques for this study, which was based on screening model. The quantitative data were provided via ?Basic Scientific Literacy Test? used to determine the respondents? scientific literacy levels. The survey?s questions, from ?The Use of Science and Technology and Consciousness Inventory?, allow for three answers: ?true?, ?false?, ?don?t know?. This method was prepared for the purpose of assessing the respondents? knowledge and attitudes towards science, technology, and their use and determining respondents? level of awareness. The inventory consisted of mostly 5 likert-type items, and the data obtained from them were analyzed with statistical techniques. The qualitative data were obtained via the questionnaire of ?What Are Science and Technology?? and the ?Information Test On Use of Science in Daily Life?, both of which consisted of open-ended questions aiming to reveal respondents? thoughts about science and technology and their knowledge acquired from past experiences. This data were coded and analyzed with Qualitative Data Analysis Software (Hyper Research 2.0).A mean score above 50% on the Basic Scientific Literacy Test seems to indicate that the teacher candidates? and 8th grade elementary students? scientific literacy levels are adequate. Significantly higher scores by the teacher candidates are evidence that their scientific literacy levels are more advanced than those of the students.When analyzing data provided from ?The Use of Science and Technology and Consciousness Inventory?, the teacher candidates demonstrate much more interest than the students. Also, results show that students have more interest in technology than science. Furthermore, both groups of respondents claim to rely on science, technology and scientists, and they think that developments in this area will provide opportunities for greater progress in Turkey. Overall, respondents consider science and technology as indispensable components for modern life circumstances.The results obtained from the ?Questionnaire Regarding the Use of Science in Everyday Life? show that teacher candidates are able to make explanations for situations related with physics, chemistry, or biology they come across in daily life, and they can reach the related scientific connection. However, the data also suggest that 8th grade students are not suitably capable of evaluating and explicating scientific concepts nor utilizing those concepts to solve problems encountered in everyday life.In accordance with the abovementioned results, this research is expected to be a source and a guide for new studies in this field.Key Words: Science Produced by Scientific Fields, Scientific Literacy, Nature of Science, Technology, Consciousness, Awareness