An introductory guide to deducing the mechanism of chemical reactions is presented. Following a typical workflow for probing reaction mechanism, the guide introduces a wide range of kinetic and mechanistic tools. In addition to serving as a broad introduction to mechanistic analysis for students and researchers, the guide has also been used by…

This work is an attempt to see how physics undergraduates view the basic ideas of general relativity when they are exposed to the topic in a standard introductory course. Since the subject is conceptually and technically difficult, we adopted a "case studies" approach, focusing in depth on about six students who had just finished a one semester…

Researchers and practitioners alike express concerns about the conceptual difficulties associated with the concepts of momentum and kinetic energy currently taught in school physics. This article presents an in-depth analysis of the treatment given to them in 44 published textbooks written for UK secondary school certificate courses. This is set…

What is science for a child? How do children learn about science and how to do science? Drawing on a vast array of work from neuroscience to classroom observation, "Taking Science to School" provides a comprehensive picture of what we know about teaching and learning science from kindergarten through eighth grade. By looking at a broad range of…

Describes an application of methodology based on the Information Integration Theory to study intuitive mastery by 13-14 year-olds of Archimedes' Effect in physics. (Author/YP)

This investigation was guided by the following research questions: (1) how do teachers' understandings of the nature of science influence classroom practice?; and (2) what factors facilitate or impede the influence of teachers' understandings on classroom practice? An in-depth, year long assessment of the classroom practices and goals of five…

Most physics problem-solving studies provide data that indicate problem representation is different between experts and novices. This paper presents "cognitive aids" guiding the process of elaboration of a problem representation through intermediate representations. Intermediate means that the representation is situated somewhere between…

A "Xenograde system" is an imaginary science system. As an imaginary science, it contains a set of concepts and principles which mimic many of the concepts and principles found in physics and other physical sciences. Xenograde is a highly complex closed system which simulates the movement of satellites orbiting a nucleus and some small particles…

Investigates the influence of five cognitive variables on high school students' performance on balancing chemical equations by inspection. Reports that reasoning, restructuring, and disembedding variables could be a single variable, and that working memory capacity does not influence overall performance. Results of hierarchical regression analysis…

Identifies an induced incorrect generalization as a generative cause for the formation of misconception. Analyzes students' protocol of an exploratory learning experiment about the laws of reflection of light. Suggests recommendations for textbook, teaching, and practical work. (Author/YP)

Presents the mathematics of body size and surface area to volume. Examines arguments used related to the topic. Concludes that while some of the traditional arguments are valid, most are not. One analysis for an organism is provided in an appendix. (YP)

Investigates the remediation of misconceptions through application of Gagne's hierarchical learning theory. Uses stoichiometry, food levels, and conservation of mechanical energy as the target concepts. Reports that there was no treatment effect in analysis of covariance using pretest scores as a covariant. (YP)

Discusses problem-solving strategies and the successful strategy used to solve stoichiometric problems in general college chemistry courses. Reports that rereading problems, recalling a related concept, and reasoning deductively/inductively are the most heavily used strategies among 13 categories. (YP)

Discusses the mechanism and the change of pH during the reaction. Notes that a dramatic rise in pH occurs when the reaction nears completion. Evaluates theories by other authors. (MVL)

Surveys British people over age 15 with the purpose of assessing the level of scientific knowledge among the public. Discusses the relationships between highest level of formal education, sex, and the answers given to questions. Illustrates how little school science instruction is remembered into adulthood. (CW)