A Study of the Secondary School Science Teachers' Perceptions Related to Basic Particles

The purpose of this study was to survey the secondary science teachers' viewpoints of basic particles conceptions addressed in science course. The first content of this study was to analyze the secondary science teachers conceptions related to basic particles founded on scientific history viewpoints. The second content was to investigate their understanding of relations between atom, element, and molecule concepts. The third content was to search the factors influenced on basic particles conceptions of science teachers. For this study, 96 secondary science teachers were selected. The data of this study were collected through a questionnaire developed for this study and were analysed using the method of constant comparative analysis. The results showed that their viewpoints towards basic particles were similar to each other regardless of their majors and their conceptions belonged to the past viewpoints. The teachers lacked linking understand among basic particles conceptions because they applied different viewpoints on different problems. Most of the teachers were influenced on science textbooks, guidebooks for teachers, and reference books to form confusing viewpoints of basic particles.