Investigation of the Relationship Between Eighth Grade Students Science Learning Concerns and Science Learning Tendencies

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the science learning tendensies and science learning concerns of eighth grade students. In this study, the correlational research design, which is a quantitative research method design, was used. The sample of the study consisted of 407 eighth grade students who study in Toroslar district of Mersin province and are selected by simple random sampling method. In this study, Science Anxiety Scale and Science Orientation Scale were used. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the Science Anxiety Scale was .82 and the Cronbach's alpha value for the Science Learning Orientation Scale was .90. The data collection tools were transferred to the computer in a controlled manner by the researcher. SPSS program was used to analyse the study. As a result of the analyses, it was determined that the relationship between students' learning anxieties and their orientation towards science learning was moderate, linear, negative and significant. In this direction, as students' concerns about learning science decrease, their tendency towards science education decreases and it is concluded that their tendency towards science education increases as the concerns of learning in science decrease. As there is a negative relationship between science learning orientations and science concerns, different teaching methods and techniques can be used in order to increase students' orientation, to provide positive attitude to orientations and to reduce science anxiety