Datos Investigación presencia de conocimientos pseudocientificos.xlsx

Abstract

The importance of scientific literacy and the problem that unscientific beliefs entail is the starting point of this research. The aim of this work is to analyse pseudoscientific beliefs and paranormal phenomena and conspiracy theories acceptance (PPC beliefs) of teachers in training, in addition to the influence that gender, academic background, and thinking styles have on PPC beliefs. Two questionnaires, the first one to evaluate their PPC beliefs and the second one to determine their rational and experiential thinking, were administered. Data were analyzed by a bifactorial ANOVA, four unifactorial ANCOVAs, Pearson's productmoment correlations, and multiple regression analysis. The main conclusions were: a) the level of acceptance of PPC beliefs among teachers in training is medium-low; b) female teachers in training have more naïve PPC beliefs (of lower quality or less sophisticated) than male teachers in training, although such differences disappear when comparing those with similar level of experiential thinking; c) teachers in training with higher academic level have more sophisticated PPC beliefs (higher quality or less naïve) than teachers of lower academic level, and d) the level of acceptance of PPC beliefs is negatively correlated with analytical or rational thinking, and positively correlated with intuitive or experiential thinking.