توجهات المعرفة البيواخلاقية لدى طلبة قسم علوم الحياة

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify:

1. The bioethical knowledge orientations among students in the Department of Life Sciences.
2. The differences in bioethical knowledge orientations among these students according to gender (male vs. female) and academic year (first, second, third, fourth).

To achieve these aims, a stratified random sample—proportionally allocated—was selected, comprising( 200) students (male and female) from the Department of Life Sciences, College of Education, University of Al-Qadisiyah, for the academic year 2024–2025. A scale was developed to measure bioethical knowledge orientations, containing( 48 )items distributed across four dimensions: objectivity and perceived universality, moral autonomy, moral motivation, and moral emotions. Each dimension was represented by( 12) items, which collectively addressed the six domains of bioethical knowledge adopted in this research.

Statistical characteristics of the scale were extracted in terms of discrimination and internal consistency, and its psychometric properties—namely validity and reliability—were established. After administering it to the study sample, the results indicated a weak orientation toward bearing responsibility for biological knowledge. There were also statistically significant differences in the level of bioethical orientations by gender (favoring females), and by academic year: the fourth year showed significantly higher bioethical orientation compared to the first year, and the third year compared to the first year. The study concluded with a set of recommendations and proposals, including gradually incorporating bioethical knowledge items into the curricula of the Life Sciences Department, and integrating the ethical value dimension with the cognitive dimension in order to foster ethical awareness.

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