From conflict to harmony: Changing conceptual ecology of evolution acceptance of Muslim students after dialogue in science and Religion

Saefi, Muhammad, Suwono, Hadi and Hanafi, Yusuf (2024) From conflict to harmony: Changing conceptual ecology of evolution acceptance of Muslim students after dialogue in science and Religion. Evolution: Education and Outreach, 8 (2024). pp. 1-18. ISSN 1936-6434

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Abstract

Muslim students have a high perceived conflict between religion and evolution. For this reason, constructivist teaching was implemented to emphasise the balance of the nature of science (NOS) on evolution and creationism theory within the conceptual ecology for biological evolution (CEBE) framework. This study explored changes in students’ CEBE and how perceived conflict, NOS, and religion contributed to the evolution of acceptance during the course. This research followed a one-group pre-test and post-test design to gather data. Data collection tools used in this study included a questionnaire and a reflective essay. The study group consisted of third-year undergraduate biology students aged 20–22 from Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang in Indonesia. Questionnaire responses were analysed using statistical methods, including paired t-tests, correlation, and hierarchical regression, while reflective essays were analysed using content analysis. The study found that students’ acceptance increased after the course and was correlated with their knowledge, religiosity, understanding of NOS, and perceived impact. The understanding of NOS was the primary factor influencing the acceptance of the theory of evolution, while perceived conflict has the least impact. In addition, reflective essays showed that while most students had a naive knowledge of evolutionary reasoning, they could explain the nature of science. The students were able to establish a complex relationship between science and religion using the chimpanzee-human relationship explanation. This study has provided an example of a learning method to minimise students' perceived conflict in the evolution course.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	Theory of evolution acceptance; Perceived conflict; Religion Evolution NOS Conceptual ecology for biological evolution
Subjects:	13 EDUCATION > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130211 Religion Curriculum and Pedagogy 13 EDUCATION > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130212 Science, Technology and Engineering Curriculum and Pedagogy 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences > Department of Biology
Depositing User:	Muhammad Saefi
Date Deposited:	19 Jun 2024 16:10

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