Is biology boring? Student attitudes toward biology

Abstract

The study examines the interests and attitudes of school students toward biology: through their interest in out-of-school activities and their attitude towards lessons as measured by interest, importance and difficulty. Biology lessons were relatively popular with the greatest preference found among students learning zoology. Girls showed significantly greater interest in biology than boys. This difference was highest among grade five (age 10–11) students when learning botany. Girls assessed biology as more important and less difficult than boys. Biology-related hobbies, films and books received greater attention (10-21%) than other activities and were significantly related. However, fifth grade students (both boys and girls) exhibited difficulties in learning botany and interest in biology decreased with age.

Keywords:

• Attitudes
• Interest
• Biology education
• Out-of-school interest