Abstract:
The contents of Nature of Science (NOS) can be classified in the epistemological, historical and sociological perspectives. The research on didactics of science has prioritized the epistemological perspective, and a debate persists among specialists about which contents of NOS to teach and how to do it. The aim of this research is to analyze the conceptions and declared practices of teaching about sociological aspects of NOS among teachers of Methods in Research for Natural Sciences in the city of Córdoba, Argentina. A qualitative methodology was used with semi-structured interviews. The interviewed teachers emphasize the explicit teaching of the epistemological perspective of NOS. They recognize mutual influences between science and society although some naive conceptions persist, particularly about the image of the scientist. Regarding teaching practices, it was evident that sociological issues are developed in the classrooms; sometimes planned and sometimes spontaneously.
Keywords:
Nature of science; Sociology of science; Methods in research; Natural sciences teaching; Teaching practices