A Longitudinal Study in Context of Attitude Development of Learner and the Transition Between Primary School and Secondary School in Berlin

The longitudinal study is based on the attitudes of pupils from primary (Christen 2004) and secondary schools towards school in general and specifically to Sachunterricht and Biology (Upmeier zu Belzen & Christen 2004). A central aspect of this paper are the transitions between the subjects Sachunterricht and Natural Science (in Berlin in grade 5 and 6) and between Natural Science and Biology (up from grade 7). This project pursues the question how the position of Biology within this subjects influences the progression of the learners attitude. Former cognitions refer to the methodical design of education. These studies don't take into account how Biology as a discipline is constituted and perceived. The development of the attitude is as well influenced by factors like class atmosphere, behaviour of fellow pupils and teaching staff. In the context of interviews the causes of the development of the pupils attitude shall be analyzed. Main object is the transition between primary to secondary school as well as between the subjects Sachunterricht, Natural Science and Biology. The question for the allocation of the study participants is answered by the first selective data collection in 2006. It allows a comparison of results from Nordrhein-Westfalen. Furthermore the findings of this quasi longitudinal study show that in Berlin with a primary school of 6 years and the subject Natural Science the pupils attitudes were more positive than in Nordrhein-Westfalen.