ERIC Number: EJ770708
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2003-Sep
Pages: 17
Abstractor: Author
Reference Count: 27
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-0693
Improving High School Students' Understanding of Potential Difference in Simple Electric Circuits
Liegeois, Laurent; Chasseigne, G'erard; Papin, Sophie; Mullet, Etienne
International Journal of Science Education, v25 n9 p1129-1145 Sep 2003
This paper reports two studies into the understanding of the concept of potential difference in the current-potential difference-resistance context among 8th-12th graders (Study 1), and the efficiency of a learning device derived from Social Judgment Theory (Study 2). These two studies showed that: (a) when asked to infer potential difference from resistance and current information, most participants only relied on current and ignored or greatly underestimated the importance of resistance information; (b) exposure to an electricity course did not much alter the way participants infer potential difference from resistance and current information; (c) a simple learning device considerably improved the way participants infer potential difference from resistance and current information; and (d) this observed improvement promised to be durable, at least in the short term. (Contains 7 figures and 1 table.)
Descriptors: High School Students, Science Instruction, Teaching Methods, Scientific Concepts, Energy, Thinking Skills, Skill Development, Concept Formation
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/default.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

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