• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.301-311
• /
• 1997

The purpose of this study is to construct a structural equation model and to analyze causal relationships among variables related to attitudes to science using structural equation modeling(SEM) with LISREL VII. The sample consisted of 483 10th grade boys from a general high school in Pusan, Korea. The questionnaires (ABC-attitude scale: affection, behavioral intention, cognition scale of attitude towards science) were developed by the researcher through a pilot study. And other instruments have modified previous ones. Five instruments were used in this study: GALT(group assessment of logical thinking), MTSlS(modified test of science inquiry skill), ABC-attitude scale, MSAS(modified scientific attitude scale), CSAT(common science achievement test). Structural equation modeling with LISREL VII($J\ddot{o}reskog$ & $S\ddot{o}rbom,$ 1993) was employed to estimate the causal inferences about hypothesized relationships among observed data sets. Three competing models consisted of five latent variable(scientific thinking ability, science inquiry skill, attitude towards science, scientific attitude, science achievement) - lP(inquiry preceding) model, AP(attitude preceding) model and AM(attitude mediating) model - were developed. Among these competing models, IP model satisfied the observed data sets. The causal relationships among "attitudes to science" and other latent variables were reliably identified. According to the results of the present study, science inquiry skill was the most significant variable that can predict science achievement. But scientific thinking ability has not directly influenced science achievement. This study suggests that inquiry based teaching-learning processes should be offered to students for improvement of science achievement. At the same time, it seems to be important to develop positive attitude towards science. Understanding of relationships among variables related to attitudes to science will be helpful to the development of science curriculum and to the design of science teaching and learning process. LISREL has been recognized as a useful approach in testing a SEM. However, in this study, LISREL approach was estimated as much more useful method for research design.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.488-496
• /
• 2005

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.355-366
• /
• 1999

In this study, the characteristics of science inquiry problem solving were analyzed in the interactions between science process skills and science concepts by each related its category. Nine types of problem solving, which were based on two elements and the thinking aloud were found largely by protocol analysis, but six types when integrated similar thinking processes. There were quite differences in the representative types between students who succeeded and failed when science inquiry items were solved in the abilities of recognizing problems and generating hypotheses or those of drawing conclusions and evaluating. But there were not complete differences in those types between students who succeeded and failed when they were solved in the abilities of designing and performing experiments or those of interpreting and analyzing data. The data were divided into independent variables: $D_1,\;D_2,\;D_3,\;D_4,\;D$ and $C_1,\;C_2,\;C_3,\;C_4,\;C$ and dependant variables; $E_1,\;E_2,\;E_3,\;E_4,\;E$. The former consisted of the content-free science process skill achievement levels by each category of science inquiry skill and the science concept achievement levels, the latter the science inquiry problem achievement levels by each category of science inquiry skill. The regression equations were acquired within the 0.05 significant level by regression analysis: $E_1=0.03+0.16D_1+0.29C_1,\;E_2=-0.203+0.21D_2+0.45C_2,\;E_3=-0.32+0.13D_3+0.47C_3,\;E_4=0.61+0.09D_4+0.29C_4,\;E=-1.41+0.13D+0.47C$(E : the achievement of science problems, D : the achievement of science process skills, C : the achievement of science concepts).

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.903-927
• /
• 2012

The study aimed to analyze middle school students construction of physics inquiry problems for open inquiry from the viewpoint of variable isolation and clarification, and investigate students' difficulties during the processes of variable isolation and clarification to get implications for teaching and learning strategies for small group open inquiry activities which have been included in the 2007 national curriculum. The participants were 4 students who had attended an outreach program for the science gifted run by a university institution located in Seoul area. They performed an open inquiry on egg drop for 13 lessons for 30 hours. Level descriptions for variable isolation and clarification have been developed and applied to analyze students' inquiry problems and variables included by the problems. Students iterated inquiry processed 5 times and the inquiry problem showed progress gradually. Dependent variables have been isolated ahead and the levels of variable isolation and clarification showed higher than the independent variables. Many kinds of independent variables isolated extensively and the independent variables and control variables have been mingled. One of the reasons why students had some difficulties in isolation of independent variables could be the absence of theoretical models. The realities of school lab could restrict the variable isolation and clarification as well as topic selections. Some sensory or extensive variables such as broken eggs and drop height seem to be salient to be focused on as core variables. Lack of background knowledges could be one of the reasons for students' difficulties in variable clarification, such as theoretical definitions and operational definitions. As a result of lacking background knowledges, students could not construct theoretical models even though they could isolate and clarify variables as scientific lexical definitions. Some perceptions of inquiry as trial and error or reckless establishment of causal relations between variables could be accounted as one reason.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.59 no.1
• /
• pp.78-87
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the argumentation of middle school students during the argument-based inquiry. A total of sixty eight 8th grade middle school students participated in this study and they performed six argument-based inquiry programs. Data were collected from two of the latest programs by audio-recording and transcription of each group engaging in argumentation. The study findings showed that; first, the most frequent element of argumentation in the all of stages of the two programs was following order: 'claim' and 'request and response' and 'simple agreement'. The most active argumentation was showed at the designing experiments stage and the most inactive was showed at the generating questions stage. Second, as a result of analyzing the argumentation level for each stage of the argument-based inquiry, a high level of argumentation was shown at the claim and evidence stage, and a low level of argumentation was shown at the generating questions stage in the argumentation structure. As a result of the validity of argumentation, the validity of argumentation was the highest level in the claim and evidence stage.

• Journal of Science Education
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.157-166
• /
• 2020

In this study, we analyzed the reflection degree of science core competencies, which is presented in second grade middle school science textbooks, and the perception of science core competencies of second year middle school students. To do this, we analyzed the frequency of presentation of science core competencies in middle school second grade textbooks, and surveyed 400 students from three schools in Chungnam area to find out their perception of science core competency. The survey consisted of 15 questions consisting of a five-step Likert scale and 5 ranking questions. The survey analyzed the responses of 327 people who responded faithfully and conducted a post-interview survey to interpret the survey results. The main findings are as follows: First, in the second grade middle school science textbook, the proportion of 'scientific thinking', 'scientific inquiry,' and 'scientific communication' is large, and the students are perceived to have a high proportion of 'scientific thinking,' 'scientific inquiry,' and 'scientific problem solving' in the textbook. Second, students recognize that the proportion of 'scientific inquiry' and 'scientific problem solving' in the evaluation conducted in school was high, and the proportion of 'scientific communication' and 'scientific participation and lifelong learning' was very low. Third, the most important competency in science that students perceive is the 'scientific problem solving,' the competency they wanted most from science is the 'scientific inquiry,' and the competency most needed to live in future society is the 'scientific communication.' Fourth, in the case of 'scientific participation and lifelong learning,' it is an important element of science literacy, but the proportion of consisting science textbooks is low, and students are not aware of the importance or necessity in science.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.64 no.1
• /
• pp.38-48
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analysis characteristics and changes of epistemic thinking in middle school students on class-argument activities in an argument-based inquiry(ABI) science class. Data was collected from class recording video and activity worksheets of five subjects argument-based inquiry. Results of the analysis of student epistemic cognition characteristics show that experimental data was presented the most as evidence, and depending on the ABI activity, personal experience-based evidence and evidence based on scientific principles were used. As a result of analyzing the changes between claims made before and after class argumentations on five ABI activities in an argument-based inquiry science class, student claim modifications could be classified, according to reasons for the modification, into three types: correcting incorrect claims, clarifying unclear content, and expanding the concept.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.441-450
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of elementary gifted students' argumentation and examine the special features of argumentation founded in scientific inquiry. 28 students were selected in the special education center for the gifted in K National University. They were organized 8 groups of 3~4 students and engaged in scientific inquiry activity. The researcher wasn't involved in students' inquiry activity and argumentation except for the guiding and introducing their activity. In the first session, each group carried out the experiment 'Putting a heated can in the water' and then, the students discussed to probe their experimental results and build their explanation. In the second session, each group presented their experiment results and evidence from their experiment justifying their claims, and had questions from other groups. The protocol data during 8 groups' argumentations were analyzed using 'Rubric for Scientific Argumentation Assessment' (Yang et al., 2009) in three domains- the form, content and attitude. As a result, in form domain, almost groups were rated 2 points due to their argument without rebuttal on the subcategory of 'composition', but they got a good grade above 3 points in subcategory such as 'claim', 'ground', and 'conclusion'. In content domain, almost groups got points above 3 points. In attitude domain, there were some striking contrast between each groups. Six groups got good score more than 4 points on the subcategory of openness, but two groups, they alleged and got score below 3 point. While the 6 groups of all got 4 points in the aspect of participation, 3 groups got 3 points lower than because they only just asserted and not interact with other groups. Throughout the argumentation, two features were found that; as time goes by, arguments were refined; Students tended to use their prior to knowledge rather than evidence such as experimental data in making claims and conclusions.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.599-608
• /
• 2015

This study aims to explore the characteristics of student inquiry found in project-based science practices. The participants were four high school students in a science research club and worked their own project for one semester. During the project, they made their research questions, planned and executed their research procedures, and made their own conclusion. Their activities during the project were videotaped and recorded. They were also interviewed. Group worksheets and written reports were all collected for analyses. The whole processes of the inquiry were analyzed and interpreted qualitatively. The characteristics of student inquiry were presented in the view of the theory-evidence-method coordination. Three different modes of the coordinations that were found recursively in their inquiry were the theory-evidence coordination, the evidence-method coordination, and the theory-evidence-method coordination. It was also revealed that students' tacit knowledge using various tools were exhibited and these skills improved during their group works. The implications for school science inquiry education and research based on this study are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.147-158
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to explore changes of elementary science class in student oriented group inquiry activities using a Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) template that enhance scaffolding of inquiry. The changes focused on students' written reports and perceptions of their learning environment as well as discourse patterns. One fourth-grade class of 29 students participated in this study, and a developed work sheet of science writing was utilized to scaffold student's inquiry activities. Four units in the first-semester text book for fourth grade of the-, 2007 Educational Curriculum Revision were chosen for scaffolding inquiry, and sixteen lessons of instruction were all videotaped. For investigating students' written reports, a framework based on the aspects of science inquiry by Millar (2010) was used to evaluate the coherence between student inquiry activities and their claims. Secondly, a regular fourth-grade class was selected as the control group and was compared with the experiment group using the pre- and post-test of the survey on the perception of science class and science. Lastly, students' discourse patterns of the beginning science lesson were compared with those of the closing lesson. We found that the coherence in the last class increased significantly in students' written reports compared to the first one. Findings also indicated that students' perceptions on their learning environment moved toward student-centered. Based on our discourse patterns analysis, the last class was more student-centered from being teacher-centered than the first one.