Genetics in Socio Scientific Issues: Measuring rebuttal abilities in scientific argumentation. A Anisa(a), A Widodo(b), R Riandi(b), and M Muslim(c)
a)Post Graduate of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. jalan Dr. Setiabudhi no.229 Bandung Indonesia
b)Biology Education of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Jalan Dr. Setiabudhi no.229 Bandung Indonesia
c)Physic Education of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Jalan Dr. Setiabudhi no.229 Bandung Indonesia
Abstract
Genetics is one of the most important concepts in understanding Biology. Even though it is now widely applied in various socio-scientific issues (SSI), oftentimes, it is also cause a debate in the society. Students argumentation in addressing SSI that arises can be used as an assessment to see how students think in supporting or denying their claims. The case study held on 21 high school students in one of West Java public school. The aims of the study are to see students rebuttal ability and the genetic concept they use to support their rebuttal. The results showed that among the 21 students, only 4 students were able to present rebuttal with data support in all SSI tested. As many as 55.56% of students have not been able to provide rebuttal. 15.87% of students were able to provide rebuttal without data, and 26.98% of students were able to provide rebuttal with supporting data. Supporting data provided is only 14% indicating a linkage with genetic material. It shows that it is important to do the learning that support the growth of rebuttal ability in the learning process so that students argumentation ability becomes better, especially in understanding of the genetic concepts.
