ERIC Number: EJ773464
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2003
Pages: 21
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4308
EISSN: N/A
Heat Energy and Temperature Concepts of Adolescents, Adults, and Experts: Implications for Curricular Improvements
Lewis, Eileen L.; Linn, Marcia C.
Journal of Research in Science Teaching, v40 nS1 pS155-S175 2003
We conducted two studies of beliefs about laboratory and everyday thermal phenomena. The first study identified concepts of heat energy and temperature held by adolescents, adults, and scientists. We found a classic separation of "school" and "everyday" knowledge in each population. We conducted clinical interviews with 37 middle school students, 9 adults, and 8 chemists and physicists to obtain their predictions and explanations of real-world phenomena. Many students believed that metals "conduct," "absorb," "trap," or "hold" cold better than other materials and that aluminum foil would be better than wool or cotton as a wrapping material to keep cold objects cold. Respondents in each group held many intuitive ideas that were well established. Although scientists made more accurate predictions than students and gave theoretical definitions of terms, they too had difficulty explaining everyday phenomena. The second study investigated the impact of a middle school science curriculum designed to help students understand everyday thermal events. We found marked improvements in posttest scores and clinical interview responses as a result of instruction that built on students' intuitions. (Contains 3 tables, 2 figures and 1 footnote.)
Descriptors: Scientists, Adolescents, Science Curriculum, Scores, Climate, Middle Schools, Science Laboratories, Scientific Concepts, Adults, Interviews, Knowledge Level, Energy, Science Instruction, Pretests Posttests
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A