Pre-service primary teachers understandings of the nature of science: A research based on reconceptualized family resemblance approach

In this study, it is aimed to examine and evaluate the pre-conceptional pre-service primary teachers's understanding of the nature of science in terms of reconceptualized family resemblance approach variables. The study group of the research consisted of a total 174 students studying in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades classroom education program at a state university in the Central Black Sea Region in the 2022-2023 academic year. The data in this research were obtained by using the "Nature of Science Questionnaire" and "Nature of Science Interview Form". Apart from the survey and interview questions, data was also obtained by using the "Personal Information Form" in order to evaluate the research subject in terms of different variables. In the research, the data obtained from the questionnaire were transferred to the SPSS package program and necessary analyzes were made. It was concluded that the pre-service primary teachers' views on the nature of science were moderate. The views of pre-service primary teachers on the nature of science were evaluated in terms of different variables. While there was no significant difference in the views of pre-service primary teachers on the nature of science according to the type of high school graduated, high school graduation area, grade levels, whether or not they took the nature of science course; It was concluded that there were significant differences according to gender. In the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 pre-service primary teachers on a voluntary basis, after the questionnaire, in order to reveal the views of the pre-service primary teachers about the nature of science in more detail. The data obtained from the participants were analyzed by descriptive analysis method. As a result of the qualitative findings, it was concluded that the pre-service primary teachers put forward qualified opinions about the purposes of science and they had incomplete information about the value of science. It has been concluded that pre-service primary teachers confuse scientific practices with scientific methods. On the other hand, in scientific methods, it was observed that the pre-service primary teachers expressed scientific methods as experiments, observations, and hypothesis testing. However, they did not express them as a whole, but as parts. Here, too, it can be concluded that there is a deficiency in terms of scientific methods. Additionally, it was stated by pre-service primary teachers that there are different scientific methods. In summary, In the light of the quantitative and qualitative findings examined, it can be said that pre-service primary teachers have a basic understanding of the nature of science. It is aimed to investigate these missing aspects based on the ''Reconceptualized Family Resemblance Approach''. From this point of view, it is thought that with the ''Nature of Science Based on the Reconceptualized Family Resemblance Approach'', the nature of science can be taughtin more detail to pre-service primary teachers and will provide qualified views on the nature of science. Keywords: Pre-service primary teachers, nature of science, reconceptualized approach to family resemblance