Motivation in Learning Science and Scientific Literacy, Science Achievement among Junior High School Learners

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Scientific literacy is essential for functioning in everyday life, as well as for success in our increasingly technology-based workplace. Students who take higher-level of science which requires strong fundamental skills in Science are more likely to attend and to complete college. One study of high school females found that one difference between those who later dropped out of high school and those who graduated was lower science scores among the former group (Roberts, 2017).

METHODS

The research used the descriptive method. The researcher is unable to "manipulate" or control any factors or phenomena, such as an intervention or "treatment," that may influence the participant's (subject's) behavior or performance. This characteristic has important implications for the conclusions that are drawn. It usually means that the study can only describe something or uncover relationships between two or more factors. Specifically, the descriptive-correlational research design was utilized in this study to relationships among two or more variables such as scientific literacy, motivation to learn science, and science achievement.

RESULTS

Generally, the majority of the grade 8 learners are in the "developing stage" when their overall mean score in the test of scientific literary skills is described. It is found that student's scientific literacy and motivation towards science learning have a significant relation to students' science achievement. The finding of this study showed that students who have the moderate motivation to learn science have mid-low achievement in science. The finding reported in this study justify the importance of students' motivation towards science learning to students' science achievement. This finding revealed that the students' motivation towards science learning is a significant predictor of students' science achievement in agreement with studies carried out by other researchers.

DISCUSSIONS

Result shows that it is " ̃mostly true' that the most satisfying thing for them in a Science class is trying to understand the lessons as thoroughly as possible; that they need to know Science because it is a useful subject; and they want to do their best in a Science class because it is important to show their Scientific ability to their family and friends. They indicated that they like Science because it really makes them learn new things and Science lessons arouse their curiosity; that when they have the opportunity in a Science class, they choose activities that they can learn, even if they do not guarantee a good grade; and that they try to set and achieve a high standard of excellence.