Student perceptions re evolution

From: Howard J. Van Till (hvantill@chartermi.net)
Date: Wed Aug 20 2003 - 16:21:24 EDT

  • Next message: John W Burgeson: "Re: Student perceptions re evolution"

    A friend of mine teaches biology at a State University. He is interested in
    the discussion regarding the interaction of science and religion and in his
    students' perception of the issues. One of his concerns is to find out what
    his students think about the degree of confidence that the scientific
    community has in the broad concept of evolutionary development -- not a
    concern for the details of any particular scientific theory about the role
    of process X versus process Y, but the credibility of the broad concept. I
    find his comments on this question interesting. Here is what he had to say:

    For many years I have conducted a survey in the non-majors biology
    courses I taught before we begin the topic of evolution. I ask the
    class the following question: Suppose we did a survey and called up Ph.D.
    biologists doing research and teaching in schools across the nation
    (Harvard, Minnesota, Texas, Oregon, etc.) and asked them to answer the
    question, "In your judgment, is biological evolution a well established
    theory?" What percentage of these biology academics would say 'Yes'?

    I give the students the following choices: 99% 95% 90% 75% 50% 25% 10% 5%
    or 1%
    and then ask them to vote by a show of hands. In many other such straw
    polls in
    class there are usually a significant number of students who do not
    vote, but in this evolution poll they all generally vote with enthusiasm
    (and with some confidence).

    Very few students will answer 99% or 95%. In my most recent poll
    more students answered 1% and 5% than 99% and 95%.
    In fact, over the approximately 25 classes in which I have done this, I
    think the
    distribution is a fairly normal one with the mean near 50%. This result
    has happened so many times that it no longer surprises me. As I recall the
    most students who answered in the 90th percentile in any survey was one
    class where 6 out of about a total of 40 did so.

    The other interesting thing in this poll is that there is little, if
    any, correlation between the academic capabilities of the students and
    how they answer this question. The 'A' students are just as likely to
    answer 1% as they are 99%, just as the 'D' students are just as
    likely to answer 1% as they are 99%.

    What does this say about the culture and educational environment these
    students experience before they get to college? I suspect evolution is
    largely
    a 'hands off' topic in their formal education.

    So, for list discussion, what do you make of this poll result?

    Howard Van Till



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