ERIC Number: EJ1188271
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1087-3430
EISSN: N/A
Development of a Test of Scientific Argumentation
Frey, Bruce B.; Ellis, James D.; Bulgreen, Janis A.; Hare, Jana Craig; Ault, Marilyn
Electronic Journal of Science Education, v19 n4 2015
"Scientific argumentation," defined as the ability to develop and analyze scientific claims, support claims with evidence from investigations of the natural world, and explain and evaluate the reasoning that connects the evidence to the claim, is a critical component of current science standards and is consistent with "Common Core State Standards." Consequently, science teachers, researchers and program evaluators often include the process of scientific argumentation among their objectives for instruction and assessment. This paper describes the development of a valid, reliable and practical classroom measure of scientific argumentation. Based on Toulmin's (2003) theoretical framework of scientific argumentation, the 36-item test creates both a total score and subscores covering the ability to identify claims and "qualifiers" in a claim, the ability to distinguish among a "claim," "fact," "opinion," and "data," the ability to distinguish among "authority," "logic" and "theory" as possible reasons one accepts a claim, and the ability to identify "rebuttals" and "counter-arguments." Evidence for the measures validity and reliability is presented. Scores on the full "Test of Scientific Argumentation" were internally reliable (a = 0.82) and subscore reliability estimates ranged from 0.49 to 0.88. The total score and subscale scores correlated moderately with an existing critical thinking measure.
Descriptors: Test Construction, Science Tests, Persuasive Discourse, Science Process Skills, Secondary School Science, Test Items, Test Reliability, Test Validity, Item Analysis, Critical Thinking, Cognitive Tests, Thinking Skills, Middle School Students, Test Format, Multiple Choice Tests, Scoring, Student Evaluation
Southwestern University and Texas Christian University. TCU Box 297900, Fort Worth, TX 76129. Tel: 817-257-6115; e-mail: ejse@southwestern.edu; Web site: http://ejse.southwestern.edu
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Cornell Critical Thinking Test
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A