Pseudoscientific beliefs and media literacy

Kızılcık H. Ş.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENCE EDUCATION, vol.46, no.17, pp.1811-1825, 2024 (SSCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 46 Issue: 17
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/09500693.2023.2300379
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Psycinfo
  • Page Numbers: pp.1811-1825
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the potential correlation between pseudoscientific beliefs and media literacy among pre-service teachers. In this study, a survey method was conducted. The research group consists of 332 pre-service teachers from a state university. Data were collected using two Likert scales, one on media literacy and the other on pseudoscientific beliefs. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis and inferential statistics methods. As a result, although pre-service teachers have high media literacy, their pseudoscientific beliefs are also high. Pseudo-medical beliefs increase significantly as media literacy increases. However, it has no significant correlation with pseudophysical and pseudo-predictive beliefs. Also, as dependency and confidence in the media increase, all types of pseudoscientific beliefs decrease.