Investigation of the Viewpoint of Elementary Students about Personal Epistemology: A Qualitative Study

Recent study in of students’ beliefs about nature of knowledge and knowing as one of the effective constructs in learning have been considered. The present study with the aim of identity constituent elements of personal epistemology with an emphasis on qualitative methods that focus groups was performed. Hence, sample of 72 children aged 7-12 years with purposefull sampling strates were selected from schools in Tehran and were interviewed in groups of 6 persons. Results indicated that personal epistemology consisted of simple knowledge, certain knowledge, source of knowledge and justification of knowing. Hence, cultural factors with Islamic approach governing on the structure of schools has affected student’s views and exploratory factor structure of western culture was different.