Socio-scientific issues and Chemistry Teaching: analysis of dissertations and theses defended between 2013 and 2023 in Brazil

Abstract

Addressing social and scientific issues (SSQ) is one of the didactic strategies that can be used in chemistry teaching, helping to empower students to make decisions and act as citizens. Given this fact, what has the research in the area covered about this approach? The aim of this study is to analyze how SSQs are approached in Brazilian research in dissertations and theses defended between 2013 and 2023, available in the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD). The methodological paths followed the following criteria for analysis: level of education, types of SSQ and thematic focus of the selected works. The results show that environmental issues were the most explored in the research and that education of teachers was the predominant focus. SSQs in chemistry teaching in Brazil need further research and application in the classroom in basic education if they are to become a real strategy for promoting citizenship in students' education.