Physical and psychosocial aspects of science laboratory learning environment

AbstractThis paper reports a survey which was conducted in order to determine teachers’ and students’ perception of science laboratory learning environment schools in Malaysia and to compare their perceptions regarding the physical and psychosocial aspects. Teachers’ and students’ perception on psychosocial aspects were measured by using Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (SLEI) while perception on physical aspects was measured using Physical Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (PSLEI). Analysis of findings found that teachers and students demonstrate positive attitudes in all SLEI scales, with an exception in open ended scale, hi terms of physical aspects, teachers provide a high level of fitness for lighting and technology while moderate for furniture and equipment, space, air quality and safety aspects scales. Meanwhile students rate the lightning and space as having high level of fitness while furniture and equipment, technology, air quality and safety aspects scales as moderate. Subsequent analysis also reveals that there exist significant differences between teachers’ and students’ perception of physical and psychosocial laboratory learning environment. © 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd