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ERIC Number: EJ873555
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Mar
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0157-244X
EISSN: N/A
Does Problem Solving = Prior Knowledge + Reasoning Skills in Earth Science? An Exploratory Study
Chang, Chun-Yen
Research in Science Education, v40 n2 p103-116 Mar 2010
This study examined the interrelationship between tenth-grade students' problem solving ability (PSA) and their domain-specific knowledge (DSK) as well as reasoning skills (RS) in a secondary school of Taiwan. The PSA test was designed to emphasize students' divergent-thinking ability (DTA) and convergent-thinking ability (CTA) subscales in the area of Earth science. Two hundred and sixty tenth graders who were enrolled in six Earth science classes at a public senior high school located in the eastern region of Taiwan were participants. Major findings are as follows: (a) A significantly positive correlation existed between students' PSA and their DSK and RS, approaching large effect sizes; (b) Both students' DSK and RS significantly explained the variance of their PSA with large effect sizes; (c) Students' RS could more significantly explain the variance of their DTA subscale with medium effect size while DSK might more significantly explain the variance of their CTA, approaching large effect size. The research suggests that more emphasis should be placed on the reasoning skills when developing students' divergent-thinking abilities, while stressing more domain-specific knowledge when students' convergent-thinking ability is considered.
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 10; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Taiwan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A