Analysis of the Relationships Between University Students' Laboratory Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Science Process Skills and Achievement in Chemistry Courses

Abstract

It is a widely accepted view among educators that chemistry education should include objectives to develop scientific thinking, laboratory competences and science process skills in addition to chemistry. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between laboratory self-efficacy beliefs and science process skills of chemistry department students and their chemical technology course achievement. The study was conducted in the autumn term of the 2023-2024 academic year in the chemistry departments of three universities in Kazakhstan. The study, which was conducted with relational survey model on the basis of quantitative research paradigm, included 198 students studying in chemistry departments. The data of the study were collected with 'Laboratory self-efficacy beliefs scale' and 'Science process skills scale'. The participants' laboratory self-efficacy beliefs were above moderate, and their science process skills were at a moderate level, according to the study's conclusions. Chemistry department students' laboratory self-efficacy and science process skills did not differ by gender. Correlation analyses revealed significant and positive relationships between students' achievement in chemical technology course and their laboratory self-efficacy beliefs and science process skills in the chemistry department. Regression analyses revealed that the participant students' science process skills, in particular, significantly predicted their performance in the chemical technology course.