Examines which of the warrants of authority, coherence, and empirical evidence were invoked by grade 8 science classroom participants in their daily interactions, and whether these were linked to particular teaching referents. Results indicate that when the teacher embraced a context exposure referent at the expense of constructivism, the warrant…

Ninth- and 10th-grade students (n=310) participated in a study designed to determine the effect of three variables (viewing a demonstration, engaging in student to student discussion, and/or reading a refutational text) on conceptual change in physics. Results revealed that reading the refutational text helped students change their intuitive ideas…

Investigates Grade 12 students' understandings of the nature of chemical bonds and the energetics elicited across five familiar chemical reactions following a course of instruction. Discusses the many ways in which students can misconstruct concepts and principles. Contains 63 references. (DDR)

Administered questionnaires to 35 science teachers to test the hypotheses that teachers holding constructivist beliefs are more likely to detect alternative conceptions, have a richer repertoire of teaching strategies, use more effective teaching strategies for inducing conceptual change, and report frequent use of effective teaching strategies.…

Reports a study of the quality and extent of understanding of certain well-known theoretical concepts which are held by prospective teachers (N=173) of chemistry in Yemen. Results indicate that teacher understanding ranges from a partial understanding with a specific misconception to no understanding. Contains 25 references. (DDR)

Reports on a study that uses psychometric modeling to rank the appeal of a variety of children's astronomical ideas on a single uniform scale. Findings support the view that alternative conceptions may be markers of progress toward understanding. Contains 82 references. (DDR)

This article covers the following: (1) contrasts several perspectives on science education reform by examining recommendations for introductory science courses; (2) identifies research finding that can guide reform; (3) discusses the impact of research on national precollege curriculum reform; and (4) offers a set of recommendations to guide…

Assesses students' learning of evolution by natural selection within four different sections of an introductory biology course where each section used a different combination of curricular materials and instruction. Reports that comparisons between sections support the use of paired problem-solving instructional strategy in conjunction with the…

Describes a study that explores the instructional influence of presenting pictures at the molecular level when introducing chemistry concepts and solving chemistry problems. Explores the effect of the pictures on students' conceptions and problem-solving abilities. Contains 59 references. (DDR)

Discusses the value of studying errors made by students in the process of learning science. Addresses 20 research questions dealing with student learning errors. Attempts to characterize errors made by students and clarify some terms used in error research. (TW)