Point and set reasoning in practical science measurement by entering university freshmen

The procedural understanding of university students at the freshman level, prior to instruction, has been investigated in the context of experimental work in physics. A written instrument was used to explore students' ideas about data collection, data processing, and data comparison; in particu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science education (Salem, Mass.) Mass.), 2001-07, Vol.85 (4), p.311-327
Main Authors: Lubben, Fred, Campbell, Bob, Buffler, Andy, Allie, Saalih
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abstract Reasoning
Cognition & reasoning
College Students
Curriculum subjects: programmes and methods
Data collection
Educational sciences
Exact and natural sciences
Experiment
Higher Education
Laboratory Experiments
Laboratory Procedures
Measurement
Physik
Science education
Science Instruction
Teaching methods
Universität
Vorstellung (Psy)
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Summary:The procedural understanding of university students at the freshman level, prior to instruction, has been investigated in the context of experimental work in physics. A written instrument was used to explore students' ideas about data collection, data processing, and data comparison; in particular, the need to repeat measurements and the implications of the scatter associated with numerical and graphical data. Two types of reasoning used by students in the laboratory, viz. point and set reasoning, are proposed and used to classify students' responses. The findings show a high degree of consistency of these modes of reasoning across the experimental phases of data collection and data processing. A framework is suggested from which a laboratory teaching program may be developed.
ISSN:0036-8326
1098-237X
DOI:10.1002/sce.1012