RESEARCH ON THE PSEUDO-SCIENTIFIC BELIEFS OF PRE-SERVICE SCIENCE TEACHERS: A SAMPLE FROM ASTRONOMY-ASTROLOGY

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine perceptions embraced by preservice science teachers on astrology, which is defined as a pseudo-science. It also aimed to reflect their abilities to distinguish between science and pseudo-science through the examples of astronomy – astrology. Twenty-nine grade 4 preservice teachers studying Science Education participated in the study. Among the qualitative research patterns, the phenomenological approach was used for the study. Data were collected through an open-ended question form, group discussion records, and research assignments, while individual interviews were conducted where necessary. Open coding was used for the evaluation of the data, and the validity of the study was obtained through verifications of preservice teachers on themes and theories during the interviews. The findings of the study showed that a vast majority of preservice teachers perceived astrology as a field of science or a subfield of astronomy. Quite a few preservice teachers expressed that astrology was a nonscientific field and that knowledge obtained through astrology could not be considered as scientific knowledge. Key words: astrology, astronomy, pre-service science teachers, pseudo-science, science.