Surveying undergraduate Greek student's knowledge on some issues of radiations and Nuclear Energy

Mirofora Pilakouta; John Sinatkas

AI summary · arXiv: 2006.03549v1 · physics.ed-ph

Surveying undergraduate Greek student's knowledge on some issues of radiations and Nuclear Energy

Mirofora Pilakouta, John Sinatkas

Original paper Submitted to arXiv on 05 Jun. 2020 11 pages, 4 figures License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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The essentials

Greek undergraduate students in technology-oriented programs have misconceptions and faulty views on radiations and nuclear issues.
No significant differences in responses based on type of secondary school attended.
Females are generally less informed than males on examined issues.
Proposed solutions include disseminating informational material, organizing seminars, and addressing gender differences in science knowledge.
Students and citizens express interest in obtaining information on relevant issues related to radiations and nuclear physics.
Positive attitude towards general interest seminars should be considered when designing educational initiatives.
Need for a more systematic and representative survey to assess Greek students' and public's knowledge about these issues.
Questionnaire consisted of general knowledge questions, multiple-choice questions, demographic questions, and attitudes towards seminars.
Student sample consisted of 313 undergraduate students from TEI Piraeus and TEI West Macedonia (Kastoria).
Majority of students came from General Lyceums (77%) while 23% came from Vocational Lyceums.
Gender distribution: 34% females, 66% males. Convenience sample included 131 Greek citizens with slightly higher percentage of males (53%) compared to females (47%).
Majority of participants were university graduates (82%), with 18% completing secondary school. Age range: 25-65 years old.

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AI-generated keywords: radiations nuclear energy gender differences educational initiatives misconceptions

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Original abstract

In this work, the researchers conducted a survey to assess the knowledge and views of Greek undergraduate students, specifically those in technology-oriented programs, on radiations, nuclear energy, and their consequences. The findings revealed that the examined group of Greek students held several misconceptions and faulty views on radiations and general nuclear issues. Interestingly, there were no significant differences in the responses based on the type of secondary school attended by the students. However, when analyzing the data according to gender, it was found that females were generally less informed than males on most of the examined issues. To address these misconceptions and increase knowledge among students, the researchers proposed disseminating informational material and organizing seminars to reduce confusion. They also highlighted that although gender differences in science knowledge may be narrowing overall, this survey showed that a lower percentage of females answered most questions correctly compared to males. Furthermore, both students and citizens expressed interest in obtaining information on relevant issues related to radiations and nuclear physics. The students showed a highly positive attitude towards general interest seminars which should be taken into consideration when designing educational initiatives. It is crucial to improve students' knowledge and motivate their interest in understanding both the useful applications of radiations and nuclear physics in daily life as well as the harmful effects of radioactivity on health and the environment. The researchers emphasized that a more systematic and representative survey is needed to obtain a secure assessment of Greek students' and public's knowledge about these issues. To develop an effective questionnaire for this purpose they reformed and enriched an existing questionnaire used in a preliminary investigation at TEI Piraeus. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: general knowledge questions with yes/no/do not know options; multiple-choice questions for more analytical data; and demographic questions along with participants' attitudes towards seminars related to general interest topics. The questionnaire was administered mainly via mail but also completed by some students in a physics lab setting. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS recording frequencies and investigating possible statistical differences between subgroups. The student sample consisted of 313 undergraduate students with majority from TEI Piraeus and smaller portion from TEI West Macedonia (Kastoria). Most students were in their first year of studies regarding participants' previous education 77% came from General Lyceums (academically oriented schools) while 23% came from Vocational Lyceums (vocationally oriented schools). In terms of gender distribution 34% females 66% males additionally convenience sample 131 Greek citizens mainly public employees administrative staff TEI Piraeus participated survey slightly higher percentage males 53% compared females 47%. Majority university graduates 82%, 18% completed secondary school age range 25-65 years old .

Exploring Greek Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes on Radiations, Nuclear Energy, and Their Consequences

In this study, a survey was conducted to assess the knowledge and views of Greek undergraduate students in technology-oriented programs on radiations, nuclear energy, and their consequences. The findings revealed that the examined group of Greek students held several misconceptions and faulty views on radiations and general nuclear issues. Furthermore, both students and citizens expressed interest in obtaining information on relevant issues related to radiations and nuclear physics.

Survey Design

The questionnaire used for this survey consisted of three parts: general knowledge questions with yes/no/do not know options; multiple-choice questions for more analytical data; and demographic questions along with participants' attitudes towards seminars related to general interest topics. The questionnaire was administered mainly via mail but also completed by some students in a physics lab setting.

Participants

The student sample consisted of 313 undergraduate students with majority from TEI Piraeus (Technical Educational Institute) and smaller portion from TEI West Macedonia (Kastoria). Most students were in their first year of studies regarding participants' previous education 77% came from General Lyceums (academically oriented schools) while 23% came from Vocational Lyceums (vocationally oriented schools). In terms of gender distribution 34% females 66% males additionally convenience sample 131 Greek citizens mainly public employees administrative staff TEI Piraeus participated survey slightly higher percentage males 53% compared females 47%. Majority university graduates 82%, 18% completed secondary school age range 25-65 years old .

Findings

When analyzing the data according to gender it was found that females were generally less informed than males on most of the examined issues. Interestingly there were no significant differences in the responses based on the type of secondary school attended by the students. Additionally both students and citizens expressed interest in obtaining information on relevant issues related to radiations and nuclear physics as well as showed a highly positive attitude towards general interest seminars which should be taken into consideration when designing educational initiatives.

Conclusion & Recommendation

It is crucial to improve students' knowledge about radiations, nuclear energy, their consequences as well as motivate their interest in understanding both the useful applications of these concepts in daily life as well as its harmful effects on health and environment. To address these misconceptions among Greek undergraduates researchers proposed disseminating informational material organizing seminars reduce confusion increase knowledge among them . Furthermore they highlighted although gender differences science knowledge may narrowing overall this survey showed lower percentage females answered most questions correctly compared males . Lastly researchers emphasized need systematic representative survey obtain secure assessment Greek student public's knowledge these issues reform enrich existing questionnaire used preliminary investigation Technical Education Institute Piraeus develop effective questionnaire purpose .

Created on 27 Nov. 2023

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