A comparative study of the impact of students' feelings regarding the use of nuclear energy

Abstract

This article presents the results of a comparative study of two groups of learners--group 1 (25 non-science students) and group 2 (25 A-level physics students). It explores the extent to which their feelings and emotions, in conjunction with their knowledge of nuclear energy, impact and influence their views and feelings about the use of nuclear energy as an alternative source of energy. The findings reveal that, after exposure to learning about topics in nuclear energy, the non-science students were more accepting and open in respect of the use of nuclear energy than the science students. In fact, over 80 percent of the non-science students indicated that they would support nuclear energy as a viable alternative energy source, while only about 45 percent of the physics students said that they would