The Role of the Learning Environment of the Faculty of Education at Najran University in the Development of Scientific Thinking

Abstract

This research aimed to identify the role of the learning environment of the faculty of education at Najran University, KSA, in developing the scientific thinking style of its students. This required identification of the extent of respondents choose the scientific, religious or superstitious thinking style in interpretation of life and social situations presented to them. Using ‘t’ test, there was statistically significant differences between the first university level female students and the same level male students, for females, in choosing the scientific thinking style to interpret the life and social situations that the first research tool contained. However, there was no similar statistically significant differences between the final level female and male students. Although there were statistically significant differences in the choice of scientific thinking style among male students of the first level and the final level, for the final level, which can be attributed to the influence of the learning environment, the females did not show such differences. These results, in addition to the opinions of teaching staff, both sexes (using the second research tool), that the learning environment has an average impact on developing the scientific thinking style, showed weakness of this environment.

Keywords: Scientific Thinking Style, Religious Thinking Style, Superstitious Thinking Style, Learning Environments, Faculty of Education, Najran University

The Role of the Learning Environment of the Faculty of Education at Najran University in the Development of Scientific Thinking