‘Wanneer we de evolutietheorie overwegen, zijn feiten belangrijk. Maar ons onderbuikgevoel is belangrijker, zo blijkt uit een experiment. Onderzoekers verzamelden 124 biologiedocenten in opleiding. De docenten kregen vragen voorgelegd waarmee de wetenschappers wilden achterhalen in hoeverre ze in de evolutietheorie geloofden.’
– Aldus meldt het Journal of research in Science Teaching.

Opvallend genoeg bleek het onderbuikgevoel omtrent de feiten zo’n sterke invloed te hebben dat ook de religieuze achtergrond van de proefpersonen geen rol speelde bij het uiteindelijk accepteren of afwijzen van de theorie. Blijkbaar staat religie de evolutietheorie toch niet zo in de weg. Als er iets in de weg staat, dan zijn we het zelf.

Hieronder de conclusie uit het betreffende artikel ‘Feeling of Certainty: Uncovering a Missing Link Between Knowledge and Acceptance of Evolution’ (Journal of Research in Science Teaching)

Findings of this study provide evidence that a previously unexplored variable, FOC, explains a significant proportion of the variance in acceptance of evolution among pre-service biology teachers. Further, the pattern of relationships found among FOC, knowledge of evolution, level of education, and acceptance of evolution provide support for a newly proposed theoretical model of factors that influence acceptance of evolution.

Though additional components of the model remain to be tested, results reported here indicate that a product of intuitive cognitions, FOC, strongly moderates acceptance of evolution. This finding is both encouraging and sobering. On one hand, we have identified a previously unexamined factor that seems strongly predictive of level of acceptance of evolution. On the other hand, we seem to have uncovered a factor that represents a category of cognitions, intuitive cognitions, for which we have little to guide us in designing educational interventions.

Since it is likely that intuitive cognitions play a role in acceptance of other ideas (or all ideas) in science, the findings reported here have implications for a broad range of issues and challenges in science education. For those engaged in studies of evolution education, explication of factors arising from intuitive cognitions and their interrelationships may enable us to move beyond a preoccupation with discrete convictions associated with particular religious traditions or worldviews and focus more intently on general principles associated with intuitive cognitions.

For those engaged in studies of other key ideas in science, or issues such as climate change, genetically modified organisms, or alternative energy sources, exploration of possible influences of intuitive cognitions seems warranted.

Zie: Onderbuikgevoel bepaalt of we evolutietheorie omarmen  (scientas.nl)

Bron: Feeling of certainty: Uncovering a missing link between knowledge and acceptance of evolution  (Journal of Research in Science Teaching)

Illustr. levensbeschouwelijk.blogspot.com