Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA (JPPIPA)
Vol 12 No 6 (2026)

Epistemological Beliefs about Physics Learning: The Role of Gender, Grade Level, and Ethnicity Background toward Quality and Inclusive Education

Oktavina Pandango (Universitas Negeri Malang)
Sentot Kusairi (Universitas Negeri Malang)
Sujito (Universitas Negeri Malang)



Article Info

Publish Date
25 Jun 2026

Abstract

This study explores high school students' epistemological beliefs about physics learning in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province and evaluates the effects of gender, grade level, and ethnicity. Utilizing a descriptive-quantitative survey design, the study involved 390 science students (grades 10–12) across six high schools. Data were gathered via the validated Beliefs and Attitudes Toward Physics and Learning (BAPL) instrument and analyzed using a three-way ANOVA. The overall average BAPL score was . Statistics revealed that gender significantly impacted overall beliefs (F = 3.99, p = 0.05), with females reporting more positive baseline scores (70.00  6.74) than males (68.55 7.34). Grade level also exerted a significant main effect (F = 3.60, p = 0.04), showing more sophisticated views in higher grades. Conversely, the main effect of ethnicity was highly insignificant (F = 0.006, p = 0.94). While no significant overall three-way interaction was found (F = 0.85, p = 0.43), a dimension-specific three-way interaction emerged exclusively within the Relevance of Physics in Everyday Life (RLE) dimension (F = 3.05, p = 0.05). These findings suggest that uniform school systems act as epistemic equalizers across ethnic backgrounds in NTT, though gender-sensitive and context-aware pedagogy remains essential to foster sophisticated physics beliefs.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jppipa

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology Chemical Engineering, Chemistry & Bioengineering Chemistry Education Materials Science & Nanotechnology Physics

Description

Science Educational Research Journal is international open access, published by Science Master Program of Science Education Graduate Program University of Mataram, contains scientific articles both in the form of research results and literature review that includes science, technology and teaching ...