ERIC Number: EJ866490
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Jul
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-0693
EISSN: N/A
High-School Students' Informal Reasoning and Argumentation about Biotechnology: An Indicator of Scientific Literacy?
Dawson, Vaille; Venville, Grady Jane
International Journal of Science Education, v31 n11 p1421-1445 Jul 2009
The aim of this research was to explore Australian high-school students' argumentation and informal reasoning about biotechnology. Data were obtained from semi-structured interviews with 10 Year-8 students (12-13 years old), 14 Year-10 students (14-15 years old) and 6 Year-12 students (16-17 years old) from six metropolitan high schools in Perth, Western Australia. The transcripts were analysed using both Toulmin's argumentation pattern and informal reasoning patterns (rational, emotive, and intuitive) as frameworks. The notion of scientific literacy was used as the basis of the theoretical framework to examine the data. Most students used no data or only simple data to justify their claims. Students of all year groups used intuitive and emotive informal reasoning more frequently than rational. Rational informal reasoning was associated with more sophisticated arguments. (Contains 3 figures and 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Persuasive Discourse, Biotechnology, Foreign Countries, Scientific Literacy, High School Students, Logical Thinking, Science Instruction, Interviews, Grade 8, Grade 10, Grade 12, Intuition, Thinking Skills, Cognitive Processes, Student Attitudes, Age Differences, Secondary School Science
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 10; Grade 12; Grade 8; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A