Inquiry is essentially a process in which research questions are asked and an attempt is made to find the answers. However, the formulation of operational research questions of the sort used in authentic scientific inquiry is not a trivial task. Here, we set out to explore the possible influence of separating the research question from the…

Dynamic inquiry learning emphasizes aspects of change, intellectual flexibility, and critical thinking. Dynamic inquiry learning is characterized by the following criteria: learning as a process, changes during the inquiry, procedural understanding, and affective points of view. This study compared the influence of open versus guided inquiry…

Examined the effect of discovery and non-discovery classroom climates on college students learning of science process skills and biology content achievement. Results indicate students in discovery climate learned as much content as students in more direct class. These and other results are compared to those of an earlier study. (JN)

This study investigated what constitutes exploratory learning and what effects instructional support measures have on it. Among the conclusions were that students were reluctant to apply learning processes that are considered characteristic for exploratory learning. Students had problems with the process, especially with the process of generating…

Examined effect of two classroom climates (discovery and nondiscovery) on learning of science process skills and content achievement of college students (N=78). Results indicate that students in both climates achieved equally well, but students in the discovery climate achieved higher process scores as measured by the Welch Science Process…

In this study we investigate how prior knowledge influences knowledge development during collaborative discovery learning. Fifteen dyads of students (pre-university education, 15-16 years old) worked on a discovery learning task in the physics field of kinematics. The (face-to-face) communication between students was recorded and the interaction…

Compared effectiveness of discovery and expository instructional strategies on science knowledge and attitudes of fifth-grade Egyptian students (N=276). Although there were no sex differences, students taught by discovery scored higher in achievement (recall and application) and attitudes than those taught by the expository method. (JN)

Investigated the interaction between science teaching strategy (semideductive, structured inductive, hypotheticodeductive) and selected learner characteristics (Piagetian cognitive level and field independence) in terms of student achievement in science. Achievement of undergraduate elementary education majors (N=77) in a general science program…

Reports long-term effects of intensive instruction in the cue attendance or hypothesis generation on open-exploration behavior of 120 ninth graders. Five dependent measures included: number of observed details; number and quality of hypotheses; and number and diversity of questions. Results suggest long-term benefits. (Author/JN)

Reports on a study that examined the differential effectiveness of traditional and discovery methods of chemistry instruction in Zambia. Compared were the teaching of science concepts, understandings about science, and scientific attitudes to learners at the concrete and formal levels of cognitive development. (TW)

Compares models of the classroom dynamics for a traditional laboratory setting and a problem-solving-centered environment, both at the eighth grade science level. Descriptive data indicate no differences in the models, whereas path analyses suggest that, in the problem-solving model, student behaviors significantly correlate to lesson structure,…