• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.133-143
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of scientific discussion classes focusing problem finding on the primary school students' scientific creative problem solving ability, science process skills and attitude toward science class. To verify this research problem, the subject of this study was fifth-grade students selected from four classes of M elementary school located in Busan city. For four months, the experimental group of 51 students was taught using the "scientific discussion classes focusing problem finding". The control group also of 53 students was taught in normal classes which used a text-book. All students were given pre and post test to verify the effects of scientific discussion classes focusing problem finding on the primary school students' scientific creative problem solving ability, science process skills and attitude toward science class. The results from this study are as the following. First, the scientific discussion classes focusing problem finding were effective in scientific creative problem solving ability among the primary school students. It is possibly because in the process where one student compare his/her own thoughts with the others' ones and discuss them. Second, the scientific discussion classes focusing problem finding were effective in science process skills among the primary school students. Third, the scientific discussion classes focusing problem finding were effective in attitude toward science class. In conclusion, the scientific discussion classes focusing problem finding had positive effects on improvement of primary school students' scientific creative problem solving ability, science process skills and also could lead to a change in students' cognition about science class to a positive way. Therefore, the scientific discussion class focusing problem finding is hopefully to be provided as an effective instructive strategy of science class in school in the future.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.419-429
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• 2006

This study investigated gender differences in the factors affecting elementary school students' ability to identify scientific problems. Scientific problem finding tasks, involving written instruments including IQ tests, content knowledge, science process skills, divergent thinking skills, intrinsic/extrinsic motivation, personality traits, and home environment were administered to 96 elementary school students(male; 50 & female: 46). The data collected was analyzed by means of a t-test, Pearson's correlation, multiple regression analysis, and canonical correlation analysis. The finding indicated that there were significant gender differences in scientific problem finding performance. Female students were significantly higher in both total score and elaborate score of scientific problem finding than male students. Personality traits and intrinsic motivation positively and extrinsic motivation negatively predicted male students' abilities in scientific problem finding. Science process skills, personality traits and intrinsic motivation positively and extrinsic motivation negatively predicted female students' scientific problem finding and IQ positively predicted female students' elaborate score of scientific problem finding.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-52
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine the Structural Equation Model (SEM) of scientific problem finding ability based on science related attitude, motivation and self-regulation learning strategy of the gifted in science. A total of 153 scientifically gifted students were selected from a university-based Sifted education center The instruments used for the study were Test of Science-Related Attitudes, Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), and Science Problem Finding Test. In order to examine Structural Equation Model (SEM) of scientific problem finding ability, we assumed scientific problem finding model related to science inquiry, model I (domain specific), and scientific problem finding model related to creativity, model II (domain general) The results of this research are as follows. First, the correlations between science related attitudes and MSLQ were significant; motivation and self-regulated learning strategy as sub factors were positively correlated to science related attitudes. Only scientific attitude as a sub factor of science related attitudes was significantly correlated to elaboration of creativity category in scientific problem finding ability. In other hand, self-regulated learning strategy was significantly correlated to elaboration, inquiry motivation and inquiry level in scientific problem finding ability. Second, as the results of SEM analysis, we confirmed model I and model II were the best adequate through the indices of best fit (TLI, CFI>.90, RMSEA<.08); scientific problem finding ability was directly influenced motivation and self-regulated learning strategy but science related attitudes indirectly influenced scientific problem finding ability through motivation and self-regulated learning strategy. Based on the results, the implications for science gifted education were discussed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.765-774
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to suggest an instructional direction for improving scientific problem-finding ability. For this purpose, the present study made an in-depth analysis about activity on problem finding tasks of high school students in an ill-structured scientific problem situation. Subjects were divided into two groups (cooperative and individual) and two kinds of problem finding tasks were administered to two groups. Results indicated that a cooperative activity on problem finding happened to a series of steps exploring problem situation, expressing knowledge and experience, discussing provisional problems, creating various problems and selecting the best problem. Besides, a cooperative activity on problem finding depended heavily on prior knowledge and experience, and in the meantime, various scientific concepts turned out to naturally be expressed. As for the problems found out during a cooperative activity, their scores in creativity factors, including the degree of agreement in original problem selection came out to be on the whole, as excellent. In addition, the types of the problems found out in open problem situation showed that they were more various than those found out in closed problem situation. Subjects perceived that activity on problem finding had positive influence on scientific concept and science process skills. Findings of this study have the following educational implications: First, it is needed to prepare for educational environment that enables students to explore various knowledge and information. Second, the offering of various opportunities is needed to enlarge the scope of scientific knowledge and experience. Third, it is needed to prepare for a study atmosphere that lets students express their knowledge and experiences freely.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.109-119
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated how the scientific problem-finding ability of pre-service teachers is improved through open-situation scientific problem-making activity. We organized two experimental groups and a control group by degree of participation. The 1st experimental group is an actively participating class, while the 2nd experimental group is a passively participating class. We developed and applied a worksheet for training in problem-making. The pre-service teachers filled in the worksheet for problem-making once a week for seven weeks, then the lecturer gave feedback for every worksheet. We developed and applied a problem finding test in an open-situation to measure their problem finding ability at pre- and post-training. As a result of the training, problem level and diversity improved for pre-service teachers through continuous problem-making activities and feedback. The 1st experiment group significantly improved on the quality and quantity of problems. Especially in the originality, elaboration, verifiability, and variables' category, the 1st experimental group significantly improved compared to the control group and the 2nd experimental group. On the other hand, the quality and quantity of problems of the 2nd experimental group decreased. These results provide a basis for correlation between training attitude and improvement of problem-finding ability. Based on the result of this study, continuous problem-making training and feedbacks are helpful in improving the problem-finding ability of pre-service teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.860-869
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to suggest an instructional direction for improving scientific inquiry problem-finding ability of the scientifically-gifted. For this purpose, this study has made an in-depth analysis of the scientific inquiry problems generated by the scientifically-gifted in Problem-Finding Activity in Ill-structured Inquiry Situation (PFAIIS) and Problem-Finding Activity in Well-structured Inquiry Situation (PFAWIS). The results of this study turned out to be as follows: First, most of the problems generated in PFAIIS and PFAWIS could be categorized into seven types (measurement, method, cause, possibility, what, comparison, relationship) according to the inquiry objectives, while the frequency of each type shown in each inquiry objective was a little different. Second, the frequency of scientific concepts stated in inquiry problem was more in PFAWIS than in PFAIIS. But the scientific concepts were shown more diversely in PFAIIS than in PFAWIS. Therefore, results of this study have the following educational implications. First, it is necessary to offer various opportunities of problem-finding activity under ill-structured scientific Inquiry situation. Second, it is needed to emphasize that a new inquiry problem can be found out even during general scientific experiment and frequently to discuss inquiry problems generated during an experiment. Third, it is needed to encourage the scientifically-gifted to generate a scientific inquiry problem based on at least more than seven types.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.289-310
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• 2013

The purpose of the study is to investigate science process skills and suggest several considerations about developing scientific inquiries for secondary science gifted students. To do this, we analyzed scientific inquiries of science gifted programs and evaluated them on the quantity of problem perception, problem finding and inquiry planning that are regarded as high level science process skills, then revised each inquiry to include those high level skills. The result was that the first, there were differences in frequencies and types of science process skills among those inquiries. The second, there were very few problem perception and problem finding and were not many inquiry planning. The third, some of the revised inquiries showed those high level skills. From this, we would like to suggest we should construct scientific inquiries of science gifted program out of many and various themes. And there should be more high level science process skills such as problem perception, problem finding, and inquiry planning. For this, scientific inquiry developers should have intentions to involve such science process skills which is appropriate for science gifted student.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Future Problem Solving Program on creativity and scientific attitude. For this study the 4 grade, 2 class was divided into a research group and a comparative group. The class was pre-tested in order to ensure the same standard. The research group had the science class with FPSP, and the comparative group had the class with teacher centered lectures for 9 classes in 10 weeks. The FPSP was focused on finding problems, finding key problems, creating solutions, selecting the standard of judgement, making alternative solutions, and learning creative steps of solutions consisting of development of action planning. To prove the effects of this study, creativity was split up according to fluency, originality, abstractness, accuracy, and openness. Also, scientific attitude consisted of honesty, patience, curiosity, preparedness, autonomy, criticism, and openness. The results of this study are as follows. First, the science class with FPSP with finding problems, finding key problems, and creating solutions had the effect of developing the scientific creativity; fluency, originality, abstractness of the title, accuracy, and openness. Second, the FPSP had the effect of developing the scientific attitude. Students made ideas and solved the problems through divergent thinking and convergent thinking. During the class it had the effect of developing the scientific attitude; honesty, patience, curiosity, preparedness, autonomy, criticism, and openness. As a result, the elementary science class with FPSP had the effects of developing scientific creativity and scientific attitude. It means the science class with FPSP has potential possibilities and value to develop scientific creativity and scientific attitude.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.835-842
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• 2006

The aims of this study are to investigate how Kepler found a scientific problem for the retinal image theory and how abductive reasoning was used in his theory development, and to find implications for teaching creativity in science class from his thinking processes in the scientific discovery. Through the analysis of the related literatures, it was found that Kepler's problem finding in his retinal image theory came from the critical analysis of contemporary theories of vision, based on his relevant knowledge of optics, as he formulated his own hypothesis to build a new theory in eye vision employing optical phenomenon in spherical lens, which is a kind of abductive reasoning. From the results, three suggestions are proposed, that: (a) in the development of creativity teaching material, the situations like Kepler's problem finding need to be included in the programs; (b) it should be taught that relevant scientific knowledge is important for problem finding and hypothesis formulating; and (c) the experience of successful problem solving by themselves could help them find new scientific problem(s).

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.570-585
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• 2012

The Korean national curriculum for secondary school emphasizes scientific problem solving. In line with the national curriculum, many educational studies have been conducted in relation to science education. The objects of these studies were well-defined and well-structured problems. The studies were criticized for overlooking ill-defined and ill-structured problems. Some research has dealt with problem finding in ill-structured problems, which is related to creativity. There is a need for a study of scientific problem finding process in an ill-structured problem situation, because this study will help teachers wanting to teach scientific problem-finding in an ill-structured problem situation. The objective of this study was to conduct an empirical study on the scientific problem finding process in an ill-structured problem situation. One task of scientific problem finding in an ill-structured problem situation was assigned to 92 university students; thereafter, 32 of them participated in the research through interviews. Results indicated that the scientific problem finding process depended on initial clues and tentative solutions. Initial clues were affected by students' experiences, such as major classes, films, and novels. Tentative solutions were influenced by background knowledge of the tasks. Students screened information browsed on the Internet. They applied some standards for selection, particularly emphasized reliability standards, which are supposed to be studied in other contexts. All the students used assumptions to make their problems appear probable, which could be a useful tool to articulate.