Conceptions of Evolution Among Science Graduate Students

• Published in: Bioscience Vol. 59; no. 9; pp. 792 - 799
• Main Authors: Ryan Gregory, T, Ellis, Cameron A. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of California Press 01-10-2009; American Institute of Biological Sciences; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Academic Degrees; Advanced students; Biological evolution; Biology; Canada; Darwinism; DEPARTMENTS; Education; Evolution; Foreign Countries; Graduate Students; Misconception; Misconceptions; Natural selection; progressionism; Public opinion; Science Education; Sciences education; Scientific development; Social aspects; Surveys; Undergraduate students; Universities; Canada
• ISSN: 0006-3568; 1525-3244
• DOI: 10.1525/bio.2009.59.9.11

Many studies have assessed whether and to what degree students (grade-schoolers to undergraduates), teachers, and the public in general accept and understand evolution. However, very little information has been available about the level of understanding of students pursuing an advanced postgraduate degree in science. The study discussed in this article involved a survey of graduate students from four science colleges at a midsized Canadian university. Encouragingly, the results indicate that graduate students in diverse disciplines exhibit a better understanding of evolutionary concepts than do students at other levels. However, a working knowledge of evolutionary mechanisms may remain elusive, and some misconceptions may persist, even at this advanced level.