Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education

Using Photovoice to Promote Preservice Teachers’ Socioscientific Reasoning Skills

Conghui Liu 1 * ,
Gayle Buck 1
1 Indiana University Bloomington* Corresponding Author
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Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Online-First Articles, pp. 1-20
OPEN ACCESS VIEWS: 63 DOWNLOADS: 53 Publication date: 15 Jun 2025
ABSTRACT
Socioscientific issues (SSI) are complex, open-ended social issues with embedded scientific content and processes. These issues are often controversial, ill-structured problems and lack clear-cut solutions. Fostering the reasoning skills necessary to navigate these issues is essential in science education. This action research study focused on enhancing preservice teachers’ socioscientific reasoning (SSR). Specifically, photovoice was added to a water quality unit in a scientific inquiry course for preservice teachers to take photos and analyze the scientific data through photos. Results showed that learners better understood the four competencies of socioscientific reasoning after completing the photovoice activity. They demonstrated a higher level of complexity and skepticism but lower levels of ongoing inquiry and perspective-taking. The findings resulted in revisions that focused more on the issue's social aspects and more discussion on the information that is not available regarding the issue in the activity and how that information may be generated.
KEYWORDS
Socioscientific issues, Socioscientific reasoning, photovoice, preservice teachers, action research.
CITATION (APA)
Liu, C., & Buck, G. (2025). Using Photovoice to Promote Preservice Teachers’ Socioscientific Reasoning Skills. Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education. https://doi.org/10.31756/jrsmte.821
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