IDENTIFIERS *Singapore

Many have become aware of the need to assess both teachers ' and students ' perceptions of the learning environment. This study involved 1,592 tenth grade students and their teachers (n=56) in a study that investigated four aims: (1) to cross validate a slightly modified version of the actual and preferred versions of the Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (SLEI) for assessing teachers ' and students ' perception of the learning environment in chemistry laboratory classes in the Singapore secondary school; (2) investigate the differences in perception of the actual and preferred chemistry laboratory environments between teachers and students, students of different streams, and male and female students; (3) examine associations between students ' attitudes towards chemistry and their perceived laboratory environments; and (4) compare the science laboratory environments in Singapore with those of Australia