A Review of Science Education Research in Brazil.

Overview & Synopsis

This review incorporates 143 Brazilian science education research studies from the years 1972-1977. It is organized into five sections: curriculum studies, primary, secondary, and university level studies, and a conclusion (an overview of education in Brazil). Among the findings are the following. Science education research reports are communicated primarily through national conferences. The research is primarily directed towards the university level, and is dominated by studies in physics. The majority of the science education research is being conducted by a small number of universities. Graduate schools of education are contributing little science education research. Few experimental or comparative studies were reported in the science education literature; most of the Brazilian studies were course descriptions and reports on teaching innovations. (BB)