Science student teachers' metaphors for scientists

The purpose of this study is to investigate science student teachers' perceptions of the concept of 'scientists' by means of metaphor analysis. This study focuses on the following questions: (1) what are the metaphors produced by science student teachers to describe 'scientists'? (2) what categories of common features can be derived from these metaphors? The study was carried out among the 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd) and 4(th) grade students studying in the Programme of Primary Science Education at Selcuk University in November 2010. Data were collected from 374 participating students using an open-ended questionnaire and analysed using content analysis techniques. As a result of the data analysis, it was found that 85 valid metaphors were developed by the participating students. These metaphors were classified using nine conceptual categories: (1) the scientist as a hardworking and productive figure; (2) the scientist as a wise figure; (3) the scientist as a figure devoting himself/herself to humanity; (4) the scientist as a figure steering the society; (5) the scientist as a curious figure; (6) the scientist as an antisocial figure; (7) the scientist as a questioning-researching figure; (8) the scientist as an objective figure, and (9) the scientist as a mad figure. The results of this study have shown that, as well as having primarily positive perceptions of the concept of a 'scientist', science student teachers also have some negative perceptions and utilise stereotypical images, such as in the categories of the scientist as an asocial figure and the scientist as a mad figure. These results are compared with the relevant literature and recommendations are provided.