HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENTS' OPINIONS TOWARD SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND WOMEN IN SCIENCE

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine the health sciences students's attitudes toward women in science and scientific research. Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2014-2015 academic calendar in Ege University. The study group was composed of 1038 first year students attending the Medical School, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Dentistry, and Faculty of Nursing. A 6-item questionnaire was used to evaluate socio-demographic characteristics, academic career plan, pursing scientific publications, and attendance to scientific meetings. The Likert-type scales comprised of 20 statements were used to obtain views of the students in line with the objectives of the study. Higher scores in this scale indicate a positive attitude. Results: Most of the students (63.9%) were females. Most of the participants intended to pursue an academic career. Approximately half of the students are eager to conduct a scientific research. Although there was no difference between female and male students in terms of their responses about scientific studies, there were some differences in their responses to the statements about the place of women in science. The study found that students pursuing scientific publications and attending scientific meetings and medical school students had more favorable attitude toward scientific studies. Female students, students pursuing scientific publications, and medical school students had more favorable attitude toward the place of women in science. There were statistical differences between male and female student' perceptions about women in science. Conclusion: Students of Health Sciences were eager to conduct a research and some sentimental differences in male and female students were detected. In the subject of women in science, female students were more supportive and positive than male students. These findings lay a responsibility on the instructors to eliminate different views between females and males and unfavorable attitudes.