NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ1070496
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Aug
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1305-8223
EISSN: N/A
Do We Believe Pictures More or Spoken Words? How Specific Information Affects How Students Learn about Animals
Štefaniková, Sona; Prokop, Pavol
EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education, v11 n4 p725-733 Aug 2015
The popularity of science education is decreasing in certain parts of the world and negative attitudes toward science are common in learners from various cultures. Learners' interest in science and the effectiveness of their memory can be enhanced by utilizing modern concepts of an evolutionary-based approach in psychology. Survival-relevant information is, according to a number of authors, better retained than survival-irrelevant information. It is, however, unclear as to which degree the information retention is influenced by visual signs associated with danger. We experimentally manipulated danger information (genuine/ false information) and type of information (survival-relevant/survival-irrelevant) in a sample of 12-16 year old Slovak children. Information concerning dangerous animals was retained better than information about non-dangerous animals and survival-relevant information was retained better than survival-irrelevant information. The information itself, however, did not enhance memory scores, because false information about non-dangerous animals (i.e., presented as dangerous) led to lower scores than false information about dangerous animals (i.e., presented as non-dangerous). These results suggest that children adaptively retain survival-relevant information, but information retention is influenced by visual signs of danger. Utilisation of the evolutionary-based approach in science education is discussed.
EURASIA. Gazi Egitim Fakultesi, K Blok 210, Teknikokullar, Ankara, 06500 Turkey. Tel: +90-312-202-8192; Fax: +90-312-222-8483; e-mail: editor.eurasiajournal@gmail.com; Web site: http://www.ejmste.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Slovakia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A