• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.642-649
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• 2005

Argumentative discussion is one of the important components of an educational program, which allows students not only to learn the process of social negotiation through discussions, but also to improve students' overall research abilities. The purpose of this study was to examine a) the changes between inquiry of before-argumentative discussion and inquiry of after-argumentative discussion, and b) the connections between the inquiry changes and online argumentative discussion. This study analysed 726 messages in an online argumentative discussion, as well as in first research reports and second research reports. The results of the study indicate that science-gifted students' research abilities were improved through on-line argumentative discussion that provided them with feedback based on interactive discussions, and encouraged them to re-examine hypotheses and experiment processes. The science-gifted students showed knowledge and abilities for identifying simple errors in research processes and arguing problems in the flow of the whole logic of research.