‘Making potions and jumping on the moon’: exploring young children’s understanding of science and scientists using the Draw a Scientist Test (DAST)
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study explores young children's understanding of scientists' roles using the Draw-a-Scientist Test (DAST) and semi-structured interviews with children aged 4-8 (n = 75) who were visiting a Science Museum in England. A mixed methods design was adopted in order to address the following questions: (i) How do young children represent scientists? (ii) What do children's drawings reveal about their understanding of scientists' gender, appearance, and specialties? (iii) How do children's characteristics such as gender influence their depictions, perceptions, and stereotypes of scientists? (iv) How do children explain their choices? A statistically significant correlation was found between the child's gender and the gender of the scientist depicted in their drawings. A content analysis of children's responses provided insights into children's percpetions of scientists' work and a notable number of participants expressed a desire to study science at university when they are older. The findings inform recommendations for supporting children's future science ambitions.
Institution: Birmingham City University
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4415727156