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This study investigated the relationship between adult self-efficacy in science and scientific competencies of Taiwanese citizens. Probability proportional to size sampling was used to select 1830 participants between the ages of 18 and 70. The research methods employed was survey research; analysis was conducted using hierarchical regression analysis. The results indicated that gender and self-efficacy have an explanatory power for scientific competencies. The predictive power of self-efficacy for scientific competencies was different for male and female groups. This study proposes several suggestions regarding science education policies in accordance with the research findings.

This study uses an art-and-science comparative lens to understand the science culture, particularly the public engagement with science museums. A representational Taiwanese sample of 1863 subjects was categorized into “four cultures,” who visit science only, art only, neither, or both museums, resulting in six multivariate logistic regression models. Knowledge of science, interests in scientific and social issues, and socio-demographic variables were considered in the models. Adults with children and males prefer science museums, females prefer art museums, and the young and urban intellects show no strong preference, appearing to be open to both science and art museums. The findings show the complex decisions the public make in visiting museums. It is no longer a strictly science or art decision, as framed by Snow’s “The Two Cultures” argument; rather, the possibility of visiting both museums has emerged, a phenomenon we describe as cognitive polyphasia.

This study explores the relationship between exposure to pseudoscientific television (TV) programmes and pseudoscientific beliefs among Taiwanese university students. The ‘scale of attitude toward pseudoscience’ instrument was used to measure the attitudes of 380 Taiwanese university students who served as subjects for the study. The data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression for quantitative analysis. The results showed exposure to pseudoscientific TV programmes was the predictive factor for pseudoscientific beliefs among university students. Non-science students expressed more favorable attitudes toward pseudoscientific beliefs than science students. Majoring in science had a moderating effect on the relationship between exposure to pseudoscientific TV programmes and pseudoscientific beliefs. Finally, some suggestions are proposed for how future scientific instruction could counteract pseudoscientific beliefs among students.

This study investigated the effects of exposure to pseudoscientific television (TV) programs upon Taiwanese citizens' pseudoscientific beliefs. The beliefs and practices of pseudoscience portrayed in the media may misguide the citizens in making life choices that may lead to negative consequences. Participants of this study included 2,024 individuals who were selected using probability proportional to size sampling method. Interviews were conducted and survey data were quantitatively analyzed by means of stepwise multiple regressions and reported with the use of cross tables. Results revealed exposure to pseudoscientific TV programs as a strong predictor of Taiwanese citizens' pseudoscientific beliefs and that younger citizens demonstrate more pseudoscientific beliefs and practices than older citizens. Researchers of this study proposed the need for making better use of mass media as a way to educate citizens about science and reduce pseudoscientific beliefs.

The purpose of this quantitative study is to understand the attitudes of Taiwanese adult citizens over 18 years of age toward science and technology. A theoretical model is constructed and evaluated to identify factors that affect public attitudes. Differences in citizens' gender, age, and educational level are also examined to determine whether they parallel differences found in their attitudes. Citizens were selected using probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling. A total of 2,024 valid questionnaires were collected and analyzed by structural equation modeling. The results showed that citizens' scientific knowledge promotes positive attitudes toward techno-scientific issues, which are reflected in their high level of support for scientific development, research and application, as well as recognition of global warming and impression of scientists. Additionally, citizens of different genders, ages, and educational levels have significant differences in their attitudes toward science and technology...

This study uses the database from an extensive international study on 15-year-old students (N = 8,815) to analyze the relationship between emotional factors and students' scientific literacy and explore the potential link between the emotions of the students and subsequent public engagement with science. The results revealed that students' scientific literacy is significantly correlated with their interest, enjoyment, and engagement in science learning (p < 0.001). The groups of students with high levels of emotional factors outperform their medium- and low-level counterparts in scientific literacy. Additional comparisons of emotions during science learning between these students and the adult population from another study indicate a number of similarities with the exception that the adults are more involved in learning science through television. It is suggested that improving the emotions that current students experience when learning science is more likely to enhance future public engagement in science...

This study investigated how the instruction of argumentation skills could be promoted by using an online argumentation system. This system entitled ‘Cognitive Apprenticeship Web-based Argumentation’ (CAWA) system was based on cognitive apprenticeship model. One hundred eighty-nine fifth grade students took part in this study. A quasi-experimental design was adopted and qualitative and quantitative analyses were used to evaluate the effectiveness of this online system in measuring students’ progress in learning argumentation. The results of this study showed that different teaching strategies had effects on students’ use of argumentation in the topics of daily life and the concept of ‘vision.’ When the CAWA system was employed during the instruction and practice of argumentation on these two topics, the students’ argumentation performance improved. Suggestions on how the CAWA system could be used to enhance the instruction of argumentation skills in science education were also discussed.

This study takes on a relational and situated perspective to understand the relationship between scientific knowledge and fortune-telling. Measures included socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of scientific facts and methods, and fortune-telling beliefs and practices. A sample of 1863 adults was drawn from a population of Taiwanese citizens using the method of probability proportional to size. The findings showed that knowledge of scientific methods was negatively associated with fortune-telling beliefs. However, knowledge of scientific facts was, by and large, positively associated with engagement in fortune-telling practices, a phenomenon known as cognitive polyphasia. This study does not imply that science communication or education have no effect on promoting scientific knowledge; rather, it hopes to encourage researchers and practitioners to use a culturally sensitive lens to rethink the role of science in society and its relationship with other forms of knowledge and belief.

This study investigated the public information sources in specific science or technology in Taiwan. A survey was conducted extensively in Taiwan to study civic scientific literacy. Participants of this study included 2,024 individuals who were selected by using probability proportional to size sampling method. Interviews were conducted and survey data were quantitatively analyzed by means of Logistic regressions and reported with the use of cross tables. The result showed that: (1)The primary ways to retrieve specific science or technology information sources used by Taiwanese adult citizens were Internet. (2)Young citizens possessing the higher education placed a high value to retrieve specific science or technology information on the Internet. (3)The age and educational level were strong predictors of Taiwanese citizens who are retrieving particular science or technology information by Internet.

A survey of larval helminths in freshwater snails of Kinmen was conducted from 1986 to 1987. Parasitological examinations of a total of 726 live snails collected from 25 loci revealed that 20 of 80 Bithynia fuchsiana were infected with metacercariae of Echinostoma gotoi and 36 with metacercariae of other echinostomes. Among 57 Radix auricularia swinhoei snails, 27 were infected with echinostomes and with metacercariae of other flukes. Of 20 Cipangopaludina chinensis, 18 were found with larvae of echinostomes. Larval trematodes were also found in three of 37 Austropeplea ollula and two of 87 Gyraulus spirillus. Third-stage larvae of Parastrongylus cantonensis were found in Ampullarius canaliculatus (5/103), Sinotaia quadrata (20/141), Hippeutis umbilicalis cantori (1/70) and Gyraulus spirillus (2/87). Segmentina hemisphaerula were not infected. Cercariae of Centrocestus formosanus, Haplorchis pumilio and xiphidiocercaria were found in three, two and two specimens, respectively, of 37 Thiara tuberculata.