Using the TOSRA to Assess High School Students’ Attitudes toward Science after Competing In the FIRST Robotics Competition: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

This study examined high school students’ attitudes toward science after participating in a robotics competition. Specifically, this study used the Test of Science Related Attitudes (TOSRA) to measure students’ attitudes toward science in seven categories: Social Implications of Science, Normality of Scientists, Attitude toward Scientific Inquiry, Adoption of Scientific Attitudes, Enjoyment of Science Lessons, Leisure Interest in Science, and Career Interest in Science. Results indicate that students who participated in the robotic competition had a more positive attitude toward science and science related areas in four of the seven categories examined: Social Implications of Science, Normality of Scientists, Attitude toward Scientific Inquiry, and Adoption of Scientific Attitudes. Implications of results on students’ attitudes are discussed.