Pre Service Science Teachers’ Conceptions on the Scientific Theory-Law Relationship: A Phenomenographic Study

Abstract

This study was grounded on the ultimate goal of science education in Malaysia, which is to produce individuals who are scientifically literate. The study specifically aimed to probe how research participants conceptualize the relationship between scientific theory and law. Guided by the phenomenographic structure of awareness as the methodological framework, this study involved interviewing 10 first-year pre service science teachers. Differing from the literature reviewed, the findings revealed that there were unique ways in which the scientific theory-law relationship is conceptualized by the interviewees in the study, namely “Scientific law are more superior to theory” and “Scientific theories are different from law”. The findings inferred the interviewees’ understanding of nature of science as absolute and objective. To summarize, it is pertinent to further probe and rectify incorrect, alternative understanding about science knowledge among pre-service science teachers to ensure only scientific conceptions will be disseminated to their future students.