Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 268-271). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 268-271). Also available on the Internet.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationships between pre-service science teachers&#039 / understanding of nature of science (NOS) and their personal characteristics / understanding of nature of scientific inquiry (NOSI), epistemological world views, self-efficacy beliefs regarding science teaching, attitudes towards science teaching, metacognitive awareness level and faith/worldview schemas. The sample of the present study were 60 PSTs that are 3rd year students at elementary science education department at a public university in the Marmara region. The sample was chosen by using purposive sampling from the PSTs enrolled in the &quot / Nature of Science and History of Science&quot / course. Using a descriptive and associational case study design PSTs&rsquo / understandings of NOS, understanding of NOSI, epistemological world views, metacognitive awareness levels, self-efficacy beliefs, attitudes toward science teaching, and faith/worldviews were determined through different questionnaires and the associations between variables were investigated. Qualitative and quantitative questionnaires were analyzed and statistical analyses were conducted to see whether there is an association between PSTs&#039 / level of understanding of NOS and their personal characteristics. The results of the study revealed that PSTs understanding of NOS and NOSI were highly related. Similarly, self-efficacy beliefs regarding science teaching, metacognitive awareness levels and faith/worldviews of the PSTs were found to be significantly related to understanding of NOS. On the other hand, there were not any significant associations between PSTs&#039 / epistemological world views, attitudes towards science teaching and understanding of NOS.