當代女性地球科學家科學探索歷程

The female earth scientists’ scientific research progress of this generation

楊千慧(Yang Chain-Huey)

指導教授 ： 邱美虹

國立臺灣師範大學/理學院/科學教育研究所在職進修碩士班/碩士(2001年)

摘要

過去研究中顯示兩性間科學成就及科學態度的差異，會隨著年齡增加而擴大；在科學及工程領域的女性學生雖然逐年增加，但畢業後卻往往由職場流失，社會面向的期待、性別的認同，將深深影響女性是否選擇科學為終身追求的志業。
本研究在研究一的部分，由深度訪談與直接觀察收集質性資料，探討當代傑出女性科學家科學探索歷程，包括『如何發現問題、搜尋文獻及解決問題』及其研究生涯的風貌。在研究二的部分，以問卷調查的方式，量化分析性別這個向度，在地球科學家科學探索歷程中，所扮演的角色。
本研究在研究一的部分發現：女性地球科學家的研究主題通常延續的過去的研究成果，強調持續觀測的重要，累積新資料，拼湊全貌，對於現象才能有較合理的解釋。認為與其它科學家的交流，有助於問題解決，科學家的合作將有助於科學進展。在研究二的部分發現：在研究主題方面，女性科學家比男性更關懷社會的需求，在資訊搜尋行為上，女性地球科學家比男性更常以『與所外同事交談』獲得學術資訊。在發現問題、搜尋文獻及問題解決的其它向度上，不同性別並無顯著差異。在師生互動的過程中，女性地球科學家比較像家人，也比較像朋友。有較多女性地球科學家的家人從事科學工作，可能因為對科學工作本身越瞭解越不易受社會刻板印象的影響；且多數女性地球科學家缺乏相同性別之科學家典範。因此，突破性別角色的刻板印象，將有助於具科學性向的女學生追求科學生涯。

關鍵字

女性地球科學家 ； 發現問題 ； 問題解決 ； 性別差異 ； 角色典範

並列摘要

The gender difference in scientific achievement and attitude are shown to increase with age growing from past studies. Although the number of female students in the fields of science and engineering has been increasing, the jobs that female students take after graduation are usually not related to what they learn from school. Social expectation and recognition are important factors that influence a female in choosing a scientific field as her lifetime career.
In the first part of this study, qualitative data concerning the exploring process of female scientists such as problem finding, reference searching, and problem solving is collected from interviewing and direct observations. The role of gender played in the scientific exploring of the earth scientists are analyzed quantitatively with questionnaire in the second part of this study.
From the first part of the study, we find that the research done by the female scientists usually keep connected with former studies. Interactions with other fields of sciences are thought to be beneficial to problem solving. In addition, cooperation between scientists is good for scientific advancement. We also find, from the second part of the study, that female scientists care more about social needs than male scientists on the research topic; Female scientists gather information from communication with colleagues of other departments. There are no significant gender differences in problem finding, reference searching, and problem solving. From the eyes of students, a female scientist acts as a friend or a family member. To break through the role of gender will be good for the female students with scientific aptitude to pursue their scientific careers.

並列關鍵字

the female earth scientists ； problem finding ； problem solving ； gender difference ； role model