The contribution of large educational surveys to science teacher education research

Abstract

This chapter examines large-scale nationally representative survey data sets as a resource for science teacher education research. Nationally representative data resources have the capacity to provide cross-contextual comparisons for diverse social, regional, and educational differences. The discussion focuses on five examples of these types of data resources selected for their differences in perspectives, robustness of their methodology in data collection, and researcher support options. This chapter reviews the background on these exemplars, discusses their structure, and examines survey questions included with particular relevance to science teacher education research. The chapter concludes with an example analysis using data focused on the nation of South Africa. The analysis explores factors impacting science teacher education within a national context, offering readers an example of how large-scale nationally representative data may be applied in science teacher education research.