<span lang="EN">Evaluating the Impact of a Science Night Outreach Event on Public Attitudes toward Science, Scientific Self‑Efficacy, and Behavioral Intentions

Background: Public engagement with science supports scientific literacy and strengthens connections between science and society. Outreach events provide accessible opportunities to foster interest in science and sustained engagement. This study aimed to evaluate attendees’ perceptions of a Science Night outreach event and its association with attitudes toward science, scientific self-efficacy, and future behavioral intentions.Materials and Methods: This applied, descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study surveyed attendees of a Science Night event in Kerman, Iran, on March ۱۰, ۲۰۲۶. Data were collected with a researcher-developed questionnaire containing demographic items and ۱۴ Likert-scale statements. Content validity was assessed using the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI), and internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha. Data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVA; p < ۰.۰۵ was considered significant.Results: Of the ۲۰۰ participants, ۵۷% were female. Mean scores were highest for Event Evaluation (۴.۰۴ ± ۰.۷۱), followed by Behavioral Intention (۳.۹۱ ± ۰.۹۳), Attitude toward Science (۳.۸۶ ± ۰.۹۰), and Scientific Self-Efficacy (۳.۸۰ ± ۰.۸۹). Willingness to recommend the event (۴.۲۱ ± ۱.۰۴) and presenter clarity (۴.۱۳ ± ۰.۸۶) received the highest item scores. No significant gender differences were found. However, participant role significantly influenced Event Evaluation (p = ۰.۰۳۷), Attitude toward Science (p < ۰.۰۰۱), and Scientific Self-Efficacy (p = ۰.۰۴۲), with the general public scoring higher than students. Educational level also affected Event Evaluation (p = ۰.۰۴۷) and Attitude toward Science (p = ۰.۰۰۳).Conclusion: Science Night attendance was associated with favorable evaluations, positive attitudes toward science, stronger self-efficacy, and greater behavioral intentions, suggesting that interactive public science events can strengthen science communication and public engagement.

کلیدواژه ها:

Attitude toward science ، Behavioral Intention ، science communication ، Scientific self-efficacy