Average Review: 3 (3.2)

Draw-a-Scientist Test (DAST)

by anonymous, Program Director, After School, Trinity School, 2

What does having facial hair have to do with a young child's perception of a scientist?
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by anonymous, student, Harvard, 4

This is a really interesting approach to assessing understanding of science as a profession and as an identity. I wonder if the researchers have considered including a narrative section in which children could describe what their scientist character is doing…
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by Katherine Heck, Specialist, UC Davis, 3

One issue I've wondered about with respect to the DAST is whether it is measuring perceptions of scientists, or rather measuring media portrayals of scientists. The perception of what scientists look like must largely come from the media depictions of…
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by anonymous, Specialist in CE, , 4

I agree with Katherine Heck's thoughts that media may influence children's perceptions of scientists; however, such perceptions may have an influence on their thinking and thus flavor their interest in science as a course of study or as a career.…
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by Kit Klein, Principal, Klein Consulting, 4

I agree that media plays a huge role in perceptions. I think the best use of this tool is as a pre and post measure with a high degree of inter-rater agreement. When a program strives to change perceptions of…
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by anonymous, Assistant Director, Bedford Recreation Kids' Club, 4

This is a very good tool to start off the school year and to start off discussions about the world of science. I thought the data was somewhat revealing, but there is a potential of it being misleading. Because there…
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by anonymous, Director, Multimedia Research, 1

Multimedia Research used a slightly modified DAST test in a summative evaluation of a children's science radio series, Kinetic City Super Crew, published in Educational Technology Research and Development, 42(3). The measure was included as a non-verbal assessment of attitude…
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by anonymous, Youth Development Advisor, University of California, 3

While the Draw a Scientist tool is a popular tool used in several of our programs, I have never seen the scoring grid that goes along with it, and feel that in order to fully utilize the tool with its…
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by J.M., Associate Dean, , 4

Some reviewers have commented upon how this tool really measures the media's portrayal of scientists. This is a very valid viewpoint. We have year's of evidence to show this is true (we use this survey in a Science in the…
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