Eureka! Institutional Repository

The Theory of Evolution remains still, 160 years after it has first been published, the basic scientific interpretation of the world surrounding us since it is the main and unifying scientific theory of Biology. Yet, the Theory of Evolution remains one of the science areas a large number of people ignores, does not comprehend, doubts or rejects. This project tries to research the views and attitudes (more specifically the acceptance and understanding) of first year students from the four Biology Department of the Greek Universities (National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki, University of Patra, University of Crete) of the academic year 2018-2019, about a number of basic issues concerning the Theory of Evolution included in the curriculum of the Biology class of the 3rd grade of Senior High School which they were taught and examined only a few months ago during the academic year 2017-2018. Furthermore, it researches whether the level of acceptance and understanding of the Theory of Evolution is influenced by demographic parameters. The results show that the students rather more accept than comprehend the Theory of Evolution. Moreover, it seems that there is a rather significant correlation between acceptance and understanding. It also seems the level of acceptance of Theory of Evolution is not influenced by most of the examined demographic parameters whereas the level of understanding is influenced by at least two demographic parameters. Finally the research reveals several of the students’ misconceptions towards the Theory of Evolution and its mechanisms.