Student Perception of the Classroom Learning Environment in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Courses. Research Paper No. 12.

This research study investigated student perception of the social learning environment in biology, chemistry and physics courses. A stratified random sample of secondary schools from three regions was selected. The principal of each sampled school randomly selected a biology, chemistry or physics teacher who, in turn, randomly selected one of his classes to complete two instruments: Learning Environment Inventory (LEI); and the Test of Achievement in Science (TAS). The statistical procedures used were multivariate and univariate analyses of variance, and discriminant function analyses. Achievement level (high, middle, low) and science course (biology, chemistry, physics) were the two independent factors. The combined mean score for each science course on ten scales of LEI were the dependent variables. Results showed that there were significant differences between the students' perception of their environment in the three science courses. (HM)