Investigations of changes of conceptions during physics instruction are the logical and necessary next step to follow the successful international research on students' pre-instructional conceptions. This paper reviews theoretical issues, selected content-specific results, and general hypotheses. It is oriented towards explicit cognitive…

Presents Ausubel's theory of learning and discusses its implication for teaching physics in the classroom and some of the theory's shortcomings. (HM)

Described is the interview-about-instances method used to gain insight into children's and adults' views of the world and the meanings people have for the words they use in explaining their views. Physics teachers can utilize this technique to become aware of the various concept understandings pupils bring to physics classrooms. (DS)

Presents a comparison of Thai and American fifth and eighth

The testing of a formal causal model of thinking about motion is described using a matching-pairs paper-and-pencil task. Subjects were asked to distinguish between examples of stereotypical motions by the similarity or difference of causes of pairs of motions. The results suggest that responses can be predicted by the model with the addition of an…

Presents results of longitudinal study of secondary school students. Focuses on the relationship between students' cognitive development and the understanding of dynamics. Shows that majority of younger pupils show little or no cognitive progress during three-year period whereas older pupils make reasonable progress. Concludes that different…

The article outlines and explicates a number of principles derived from developmental psychology in relation to their applicability in science education. It is shown that these principles are at variance with those derived from the classical schema of the scientific method. (Author/MA)

Models the ideas of children's misconceptions and subsequent acceptance of conventional scientific thought on the simple cusp of catastrophe theory. Demonstrates one theory of the forces which are necessary to change a misconception to a scientific concept. (CW)

A general model of conceptual change which is largely derived from current philosophy of science, but which can illuminate learning as well, is described. Some features of this model are illustrated by interviews with students studying special relativity in physics. Finally, some pedagogical implications are presented. (Author/PB)

Examined the developmental sequence through which adolescents progress in solving a physics problem (balance beam ratio and proportion) and a social problem (predicting the behavior of a story character). Although most of the 9- through 19-year-olds performed at predictable and similar developmental stages on each task, a minority were more…

Discusses alternative perspectives on nature of knowledge and psychological development, relating these to science instruction. Indicates that significant learning occurs if facts have personal relevance, suggesting that a cultural transmission approach to teaching/knowledge dominates science education which neglects the role of students' personal…

This bibliography contains some 2,000 articles on empirical investigation and theoretical considerations covering the topic of students' conceptions entered before September 1990. PUblications in journals, books, working papers, and contributions to conferences are included. English, German, and French publications, and ones in other languages are…

Two studies examined the construction of children's beliefs about projectile motion of a ball rolled off a table. Describes the concepts used by children, analyzes their use as a function of age, and gives a naturalistic description of their use. Results indicate that appropriate instruction can remediate misconceptions. (MDH)

Suggestions for instructional improvement are offered for science teachers in this compilation of research summaries on specific areas of science education. This series includes the articles: (1) "Improving Students' Understanding of the Nature of Science" (discussing the relationship between teachers and students conceptions of science…

A developmental investigation of the ability to control variables was conducted. One or two logically similar physics problems were individually administered to 120 subjects age 12 to 14. The problems involved either familiar or unfamiliar variables. Each problem was presented in three different informational formats. Success on the problems in…