PREDICTORS OF STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD SCIENCE LITERACY

Being information and science literate are crucial in an age when scientific developments influence the political arena and vice versa. In order to become active and responsible citizens, students must understand such issues as global warming and stem cell research. Furthermore, they must be lifelong learners, capable of researching and educating themselves about new scientific developments. These are some of the complex issues that information literacy educators must address. This article reports on the results of a survey of student's attitudes towards science literacy and lifelong learning, their assessment of their own levels of science literacy, and on variables associated with their attitudes. Most of the students' attitudes and self-ratings were positive, especially those who majored in one of the science disciplines.