The aim of this study was to develop a Scientific Process Skills Test (SPST) in the context of “Matter and its Nature”. It was investigated whether there was a predictive effect of demographical features and participating out-of-school learning opportunities across the 7th and 8th grade students’ Scientific Process Skill (SPS) levels. Quantitative research methods were used in this study. Data were collected from 289 middle school students for the validity and reliability of the test. The SPST consisted of 30 items and entailed three sub-dimensions (“basic scientific process skills, causal scientific process skills and experimental scientific process skills). The reliability coefficient of the test was calculated using the KR-20 formula and was found to be 0.84. The SPST was applied to 472 middle school students with the aim of determining whether there is a predictive effect of gender, grade level, school location, parent's education level and participation in out-of-school learning opportunities across the 7th and 8th grade students’ SPS levels. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine the effects of demographical features and out-of-school learning opportunities on students’ SPS levels. As a result, it was determined that the grade level, gender or mother's education level were important predictor variables that affect middle school students’ SPS levels. It was also determined that out-of-school learning opportunities such as participating in science fairs, designing projects or reading scientific journals had an important predictive effect on students’ SPS levels.

中文翻译：

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科学过程技能测试在“问题及其本质”主题下的发展以及不同变量对7年级和8年级学生科学过程技能水平的预测作用

这项研究的目的是在“问题及其本质”的背景下开发科学过程技能测试（SPST）。调查了七年级和八年级学生的科学过程技能（SPS）水平上的人口统计学特征和参与校外学习机会是否具有预测作用。在这项研究中使用了定量研究方法。从289名中学生那里收集了有关该测试有效性和可靠性的数据。SPST包含30个项目，包括三个子维度（“基本科学过程技能，因果科学过程技能和实验科学过程技能”）。使用KR-20公式计算出测试的可靠性系数，发现其为0.84。将SPST应用于472名中学生，旨在确定七年级和八年级学生的性别，年级，学校所在地，父母的教育水平以及参与校外学习机会的预测效果SPS级别。进行了多元回归分析，以确定人口统计学特征和校外学习机会对学生SPS水平的影响。结果，确定年级，性别或母亲的受教育程度是影响中学生SPS水平的重要预测变量。还确定校外学习机会（例如参加科学博览会，设计项目或阅读科学期刊）对学生的SPS水平具有重要的预测作用。