Technological knowledge and scientific culture

Abstract

We present the results of a test evaluating science and technology knowledge, applied to undergraduated students at the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores Zamora, Michoacán, México (ITESZ). The goal was to compare the results among students of different majors and levels, and between the ITESZ students and previously surveyed US adults. We found no difference in the test scores between incoming first-year students in the two majors; engineering students increased their scores by the end of their studies, while the score did not improve for final year accounting students; the average score of the students tested at ITESZ was similar to the one for the previously tested US population. The results of this work can serve as a starting point to design a program of scientific outreach and curricular activities focused on the ITESZ and other high-level institutions. 

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